Pastor strangles two women to death in Abia

…Demands N1.5m ransom

A PASTOR of a new generation church in Umuahia, Abia State, one Salem Chigozirim, has was today arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on murder and demanding a ransom before a High Court sitting in Umuahia, for allegedly strangling two housewives to death.

  His victims are Virginia Ndife, 45 and Chioma Nwoke.

  Virginia’s husband, Christian Ndife, said Chigozirim who was also a plumber strangled her on September 21, 2021.

  According to him, on the day of the incident, his wife went to their new house on 67, Agulu Street, Umuahia, to do some work with the suspect.

  “I was at their family house when my daughter informed me that my wife had been killed. I rushed to the house, only to see the lifeless body of my wife. I reported to the police and DSS. After two weeks, DSS captured the suspect.

I saw that my wife was strangled with a blue bathing sponge in the neck; the entire room was scattered. The defendant wrote something on a sheet and placed on the ground that he was looking for some documents and when he called my wife, she told him to do his worst.  He said he had done some plumbing services for my wife and also sent same message to my brother-in-law, Anthony Okeke, that he was looking for his keke documents,” he said.

  While in court, the defendant informed the presiding judge, Uchechi Enwereji, that he was photographed by certain persons, who threatened to deal with him. But the judge assured him that nothing would happen to him in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service.

  The case was adjourned till May 24.