The Abia State Police Command has confirmed the death of a female evangelist, Happiness Echieze in a guest house in Aba.
According to a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, one Pastor Timothy Otu was arrested in connection with the death of the 43-year-old woman, saying that it was a suspected case of murder.
Otu of the Agape Evangelical Ministry located at the Obikabia Junction, who resides at Jubilee Guest House in Ovom village, Obingwa LGA reported to the Isialangwa Police Division that an incident had occurred.
The statement revealed that the clergyman is helping the police in the investigation to unravel the cause of the lady’s death in his hotel room.
Chinaka said the pastor and the lady lodged in a hotel in Ovom village on August 12, 2023, around 9.23pm. She said the lady’s naked lifeless body was later discovered in the room around midnight without a trace of the pastor.
The statement read; “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.”
