By Godwin Edeh
A 55-year old Pastor, Terna Uchir with the Deeper Life Bible Church, New Layout, Kanshio, a suburb of Makurdi, the Benue State capital alongside his usher, Jude Tyokula narrowly escaped lynching by a mob for allegedly snatching male sex organs of two young men last Sunday.
Investigations by The Voice revealed that, the prime suspect, Jude Tyokula on that fateful day went to a barbing saloon at the GRA where one of the victims simply known as Daniel, who is a Barber, had a handshake with the suspect after they exchanged pleasantries after which, the victim felt a strong sensation in his body with his manhood gradually shrinking and could not urinate even when he wanted to. It was at this point that he raised alarm which attracted his neighbours and passersby.
As if that was not enough, the suspect, Jude Tyokula went down to the second victim, Vershima Amasekaven, who was carrying two containers filled with water, he refused to answer his greetings but rather paved the way for him to pass as the victim noticed that the suspect was walking directly towards him. Still with the thought of Daniel’s missing manhood, he immediately left the containers to allow the suspect to pass but the suspect made a u- turn pretending to be greeting a lady who was also passing by then, Vershima Amasekaven felt a strong cold in his body and a sharp pain on his right shoulder.
Luck however ran out of the suspect as his second victim raised alarm and ran after him as he was searching for an “Okada” to escape from the scene. The victim caught up with him and demanded for the return of his manhood, which he initially denied but with the crowd gradually increasing and the threat to set him ablaze, he confessed that he took manhood of both Daniel and Vershima Amasekaven.
When The Voice visited the houses of the victims at GRA, Daniel was not around and the barbing saloon where the incident occurred was also under lock and key. At the house of Vershima, the victim was at home with his younger ones while the mother, who was said to be pregnant, went into force labour due to the shock she received over the incident and was admitted at an undisclosed hospital.
Speaking to The Voice, Vershima Amasekaven narrated how the suspect mentioned one, Pastor Terna Uchir with the Deeper Life Bible church as his collaborator who taught him how to recite incantations that can make a manhood to disappear or return if so wish, as according to him,
“Pastor Uchir promised to pay the suspect ₦1M for each penis” before the deal backfired and he was eventually caught in the act.
When contacted, Pastor Terna Uchir, in a phone chat with The Voice, denied the allegation that he contracted the suspect to commit the crime and described the entire incident as unfortunate.
According to him, “I just returned from the church and was taking my rest when a group of young men ordered me to the vehicle parked outside my house. When they opened the car, to my surprise, I saw Tyokula, who pointed at me that I was the pastor who contracted him to commit the crime”.
Pastor Terna, as he was fondly called by the suspect, also narrated how the suspect, while in the cell at “B” Division Police Station confessed that he mentioned his name to save his life from the angry mob who were about to set him ablaze and begged him for forgiveness.
The Pastor, however admitted knowing the suspect and also confirmed that he was an usher in his church and a security with the First City Monument Bank, Makurdi but denied teaching him how to recite incantation to remove penis from his victims nor contracted him to commit the crime.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State police command confirmed the incident and stated that investigation is ongoing.
The Voice investigation revealed that the suspects who were earlier arrested and detained at the “B” Division Police station, Makurdi have been granted bail and subsequently released. It is also learned that the victims have regained their manhood.
