Cross River Government Orders DPP To Take Over Murder Case Of Youth Pastor After Family’s Outcry

The grief of a family in Ikom, Cross River State, has finally reached the ears of government authorities after months of anguish, unanswered questions, and what they call a slow march toward justice.

Their son, Pastor Princewill, a 30-year-old youth leader of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was murdered on September 3, 2022, in circumstances that have shaken both faith and trust in the justice system. Two years later, the family still lives with the pain — and the haunting silence of a case that seemed to have lost its way.

Princewill was remembered as a gentle, devoted minister whose passion for youth mentorship earned him love and admiration in his church community. On the morning of his death, he left home with his Lexus RX 350 SUV — the same vehicle that was later traced to Lagos, hundreds of kilometres away from Ikom.

Investigations revealed shocking twists. A Lagos-based pastor, Peter Chinwagba, reportedly admitted being present when Princewill was shot, naming another man, Elvis Ntwi, as the triggerman. Yet, despite these confessions and other evidence — including bullets allegedly recovered from the victim’s head — the case began to stall in court.

For the Princewill family, the delays were unbearable. His mother’s health has reportedly deteriorated under the strain, while his siblings have spent months writing petitions, visiting police stations, and speaking to journalists in their desperate search for justice.

“Our family has suffered enough,” one of his brothers said tearfully. “How can a case with such clear evidence be delayed for so long? My brother was a man of God — he didn’t deserve this.”

Frustrated by what they described as endless adjournments and official excuses, the family publicly accused the judiciary and state prosecutors of failing them. Their emotional appeal drew national attention and sparked outrage among citizens demanding accountability.

In a decisive move, the Cross River State Government announced that there would be “no more delays” in the case. The state directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to immediately take over the matter, ensuring that the trial proceeds with transparency and speed.

A government statement reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to justice:

“The pain of the family is understandable. The government has directed the DPP to assume full responsibility for prosecution to avoid any further procedural delay. Justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done.”

Officials have also instructed all investigative agencies and relevant ministries to cooperate fully with the DPP’s office.

For many in Cross River, the case has become a test of the state’s criminal justice system — and of faith itself. How could a pastor who dedicated his life to saving souls end up a victim of such violence? And why did the system struggle to deliver justice for so long?

Community leaders have since called for reforms to ensure that murder cases, especially those involving clergy or vulnerable persons, are not left to languish in bureaucratic uncertainty.

As the DPP prepares to take the case forward, the Princewill family waits — cautiously hopeful yet still wounded. In their home in Ikom, a framed photograph of the late pastor stands on a small table by the window. His Bible remains open to the Book of Psalms, as though his voice might return in prayer.

“Justice for Princewill is not just for us,” his mother whispered through tears. “It’s for every mother who has lost a child and is still waiting for the truth.”

And now, with the state’s promise of “no more delays,” the family prays that the next chapter in their long and painful journey will finally bring peace — and justice.