The Abia State Police Command has officially confirmed the tragic demise of a female evangelist, Happiness Echieze, in a guest house located in Aba.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, and a cloud of suspicion surrounds the circumstances of her death.
According to a press release issued by the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, the police have taken a significant step forward in the case by apprehending one Pastor Timothy Otu, who is believed to be connected to the untimely death of the 43-year-old woman.
The police have classified the case as a suspected murder and are conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind this unfortunate incident.
Pastor Timothy Otu is associated with the Agape Evangelical Ministry situated at the Obikabia Junction. It has been reported that he was residing at the Jubilee Guest House in Ovom village, Obingwa Local Government Area.
The incident was brought to light when Otu approached the Isialangwa Police Division, reporting that a distressing event had taken place.
The official statement from the police details the timeline of events leading up to the discovery of Happiness Echieze’s lifeless body.
On the fateful evening of August 12, 2023, at approximately 9:23 pm, Pastor Otu and the deceased woman checked into the guest house located in Ovom village.
Regrettably, around midnight of the same day, Mr. Godwin Akpan, who also resided at the Jubilee Guest House, entered Pastor Otu’s room to find the female evangelist’s naked lifeless body.
“It was revealed that on the evening of August 13, 2023, around 9.30am, Mr Godwin Akpan residing at Jubilee Guest House in Ovom Village, Obingwa Local Government Area reported to the Isialangwa Police Division that on the evening of August 12, 2023, around 9.25pm, a clergyman named Timothy Otu associated with Agape Evangelical Ministry at Obikabia Junction in Obingwa LGA, checked into the guest house along with a woman named Happiness Echieze from Isialangwa LGA, Abia State. Happiness Echieze was 43 years of age.
“Further details provided by Mr Akpan indicated that on the same date, around midnight, he entered the hotel room of the aforementioned clergyman and discovered the lifeless body of Happiness Echieze. She was found unclothed, and a white substance was emanating from her mouth and nose. Regrettably, the clergyman was absent from the scene.
“Preliminary investigations have been launched into this matter. The deceased’s body has been transported from the location and is currently at the SDA Mortuary in Aba, awaiting an autopsy. Additionally, the suspect in this case has been apprehended and the case has been transferred to the State CID for discreet investigations,” the statement read.
