Crime

Police arrest Rivers pastor, seal church over electrocution.

Published

9 months ago

August 23, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

The Rivers State Police Command said the church’s assistant pastor owns a billboard linked to the electrocution that killed five people in the Rumuosi area of Obiri-Kwere in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, had been arrested.

Nine men were said to have been electrocuted on Monday when a metal billboard they were installing for the new-generation church high-tension cable sparked off.

Rivers electrocution: Police arrest Pastor, agency seals church linked to billboard

Five died on the spot, while the four others were rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for treatment.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest to our correspondent on Tuesday.

Iringe-Koko said, “Yes, I can confirm that the assistant pastor of the ChurcChurchbeen arrested.

“He is in the custody of the China Police Division as we speak. An investigation is still ongoing.”

Also, officials of the Rivers State Signage and Advertising Agency, on Tuesday, sealed the churcChurcho sealed was billboard stand which was still at the scene of electrocution along the Obiri-Kwere stretch of the East-West Road, as the two areas had been cordoned off with tapes.

The Managing Director of the RSAA, Dr Anthony Okeah, said no approval was given for the billboard installation. Read More: https://legalattorneyblog.com/2023/07/18/rivers-pastor-sentenced-to-seven-years-imprisonment-with-hard-labour-for-defiling-and-impregnating-church-members-teenager-daughter/

He warned those engaging in outdoor advertising without the agency’s approval to desist, saying defaulters would be sanctioned.

“If you must practise advertisement, you must go the right way. You must be certified and abide by the signage agency’s rules and regulations,” he said.

On Tuesday, our correspondent who visited the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital gathered that the four injured persons had left the health facility.