A pastor with the Deeper Life Church in Kanshio, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, and one of his members were on Saturday night beaten by a mob on the allegation of stealing genitals.
Our correspondent gathered that Jude Tyokula, a member of the church, was first apprehended by youths after a young man whose identity was yet to be established, raised alarm that his manhood was stolen.
It was learnt that Tyokula further mentioned his pastor, simply identified as Terna, as the one who sent him on the errand.
The duo were eventually rescued by the police and taken to the station.
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Spokesperson of the command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said, “I met these people this morning (Sunday) at B Division, but when they narrated the story, it was pathetic. Someone raised an alarm and a group of youths who knew nothing about what happened began to torture innocent people.
“This is inhuman and condemned. According to them, a young man raised the alarm of the theft of his genitals. The youth picked up the closest person and beat him up till he decided to admit and mention his pastor as the person who sent him with the hope that the pastor would come and save him.
“The youth got the same pastor and beat him up as well. Help came when the police got to know and rescued them. This is too bad. There is no element of truth in this. Since the history of these allegations, it has never been proven, and complainants are usually advised that nothing is wrong with them.”
She added that no arrest had yet been made but that there would be as efforts were in progress to do so.