Hoodlums invade church, beat pastor, police­men, elders to pulp

There was pandemo­nium yesterday in a branch of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) located in Akure, Ondo State capital as hood­lums stormed the church during the Sunday service and beat up the pastor. 

Also, some elders of the church were beaten to pulp, while others narrowly escaped when the thugs invaded the church located close to LA Primary School, Akure.

It was gathered that the at­tack was at the instance of a factional leader of the church, who was contesting the ap­pointment of the new pastor of the church. The thugs, who report­edly hired motorcycles to the church allegedly destroyed some church items, includ­ing plastic chairs, wall clock, window glass and electrical appliances. It was learnt that some members of the church took to their heels when the hoodlums entered the church.

According to an eyewit­ness, policemen, who came to calm the situation arrested some of the hoodlums but were attacked by the mob, who consequently rescued the arrested thugs.

While trying to rescue the arrested thugs from the po­licemen, Daily Sun gathered that one of the hoodlums stabbed one of the police­men in the neck with a broken bottle. Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Wole Ogodo said details of the inci­dent were still sketchy.