Bombers ‘targeted 5 churches in Imo State’

But for the timely intervention of the security agencies, five churches in Imo State would have been bombed on Sunday morning, police sources have said.

On Saturday night, church security men at the Winners Chapel along Owerri-Port Harcourt road had noticed “strange movements” within the large premises of the church and reported to the senior pastor, Pastor Moses Oloyede.

A church member who spoke with TheCable said police were immediately alerted.

“The police came with the bomb disposal unit and cordoned off the place. Some soldiers also came with them. Six persons were immediately arrested,” he said.

The suspects had planted an explosive device at the entrance gate of the church, he said, “and it seemed they were in the process of planting more bombs when they were arrested”.

Members of the police anti-bomb squad detonated the explosive devices and thoroughly scanned the premises.

On interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed to being suicide-bombers who had “an assignment to bomb five churches in Imo State”.

The church asked the congregation to converge on Heroes Square, near Imo Concorde Hotel, for Sunday services which held at 7am and 9am despite the scare.

However, police are yet to parade the suspects.

The church has its headquarters in Ogun State (pictured) and is led by Bishop David Oyedepo.