Police to work with churches on sorcery violence

POLICE Commissioner David Manning plans to have a deeper interaction with church leaders to deal with the manipulation of the Christian faith by criminals, especially those benefitting from sorcery-related violence.
Manning was responding to the recent torture and murder of a woman in Mumeng, Bololo, at the instigation of a “prayer warrior”.
“Police have responded to the brutal sorcery violence in Mumeng and are taking action against the suspects responsible for the torture and murder, as well as the so-called prayer warrior involved,” Manning said.
He added that Bulolo MP Sam Basil Junior was also assisting police with logistics and community awareness as investigations continue.
“This murder demonstrates a disturbing change in the way sorcery and related violence are being perpetrated by people manipulating the Christian faith to commit these horrible crimes,” Manning said.
“It is sickening to see these profiteers of death, the glasmen and glasmeris, some now calling themselves prayer warriors, misusing the Christian faith for their brutal and bloody ends.”
He said there were challenges when sorcery-related violence occurred in remote and rural areas.
“One of the most effective ways of preventing sorcery crimes is through police working with community leaders and churches, particularly with the latest development of prayer warriors.
“It is essential that churches work with police in stopping these prayer warriors from manipulating Christianity to instigate murder.”
He said police were now targeting glasmen, glasmeri and prayer warriors in their investigations.
“Expanded investigations include the adoption of sophisticated electronic investigation techniques including the tracking of phones, extraction of data from communications devices, and the use of covert and overt electronic surveillance technologies,” he said.
“We have a dual approach of dealing with the violent criminals who threaten our way of life.
Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso condemned the killing of the Bulolo woman, saying it was saddening.
”I am deeply saddened and angry to learn of the senseless killing of Lorna Nico, 39, from Sohe in Northern who was married and living in Bulolo,” he said.