Residents of Ayitikope in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta region are yet to recover from the shock and barbaric manner Apostle Augustine Gbedema, Founder and leader of Harmony With Jesus Ministry International and his wife, were allegedly murdered.
Their bodies, which were in an advanced state of decomposition, carry visible machetes wounds with the man lying outside their room with the woman lying in a supine position in the sitting room both in a pool of blood.
The bodies of Pastor and Comfort Gbedema were discovered at their private residence at Ayitikope, a farming community within Akatsi South on Saturday morning after calls to their mobile phones remained unanswered.
Mr George Gbedema, an Elder of the Church and nephew to the deceased disclosed that both deceased, believed to be in his 70s and the wife, also in her late 50s, were not seen in public for about between four or five days now.
He said the late Apostle held a Sunday service with them last week and spoke to him on Monday being the last time.
“When we got to the house, we saw the main gate locked up outside with a padlock and the small gate also locked with some metals.”
“His car was also found on the compound, so we suspected something was going wrong after several attempts to reach them on phone failed.”
“We are in a state of shock, this is sad and heartbreaking,” he continued.
Mr Gbedema indicated that his uncle was a nice man, who loved many within and outside the Church.
“It’s still really hard to believe that this is true at this point, this is a horrific and awful tragedy,” some Church members told the GNA.
Chief Superintendent Joseph Atsu Dzineku, the Akatsi South Municipal Commander of Police, has since confirmed the tragedy to the GNA.
He indicated his outfit is yet to conduct investigations leading to the bizarre act as efforts are underway to convey the bodies to the morgue for preservation and autopsy.
They left behind a daughter.