Six suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in Imo State in the early hours of Sunday inside the Winners Chapel Owerri, along Port Harcourt road, by the Imo State police command, while planting bombs in the church premises.
According to an eye witness account, the security personnel attached to the church noticed strange movements within the church premises and monitored their movements.
The security men alerted the senior pastor of the church, Moses Oyedele who instructed them to alert the police which they did and the Police immediately rushed to the scene with soldiers and other security agents.
In the process, it was discovered that about six suicide bombers have taken over the church perpetrating their nefarious activities.
The source said that the police immediately cordoned off the church premises in search of the suspects leading to the arrest of the suspects.
It was discovered that the suspects had planted a bomb at the entrance gate of the church and had taken position round the premises of the church so as to plant more bombs.
The police anti-bomb squad which detonated the bombs, conducted a thorough check round the premises so as to detect any hidden bomb within the premises.
When interrogated the suspects confessed to be suicide bombers who had stormed the state with the intention of bombing five churches within the state.
The church authority on getting the information in respect of the latest development alerted members of the congregation to relocate the service to the Heroes Square near Imo Concorde Hotel where they conducted their first service which was supposed to begin by 7am.
When contacted, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Adbulmajid Ali advised the citizens to be very vigilant now that the Boko Haram men have penetrated the State. He confirmed that the anti-bomb disposal Unit of the state police command has detonated bombs, adding that investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident was being carried out.
