Police Recovers Six Rifles In Delta Church, Arrests Pastor

Delta State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has confirmed the arrested of one Fidelis Nwansa, a pastor of the Christ Holy Church in Asaba for possession of firearms.

The command revealed that the clergyman was arrested after it discovered six rifles from the premises of his Church.

Confirming the development to newsmen a few hours ago, the spokesman of the command, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said that upon the arrest of the clergyman, he confessed to them that the firearms belonged to a local vigilante group in Anambra State.

Nwansa confirmed to the police that he was using the rifles to protect his church, Naija News learnt.

Onovwakpoyeya, however, disclosed that the command has since commenced an investigation to ascertain the real purpose of the firearms.

He said, “Our men arrested the pastor and recovered six rifles. The police also nab the head of the vigilante identified as Freeman,”

“The six rifles were discovered in an uncompleted building within the premises of the church in Asaba. Upon his arrest, the pastor claimed that he belongs to a vigilante group in Anambra and that he was using the guns to protect his church.”

“However, we are investigating the matter to ascertain the genuineness of the man.”

On his part, the state commissioner of police, Hafiz Inuwa noted that the pastor’s arrest was made by the force during a recent operation.

He said, “Some people from across the Niger have started or are bringing in vigilantes and criminals to Delta State in the name of providing security for churches and hotels, forgetting the fact that it is illegal to do that because a vigilante from another state cannot come and operate in this state,”

“Secondly, they are carrying sophisticated firearms. There is every indication that once they bring these people, they are also engaged in criminality. So, we have recovered six pump action rifles.”

Meanwhile, Naija News has reported that a woman whose identity is yet to be confirmed has reportedly been murdered in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to reports from the locals, the woman was murdered on the early hour of Wednesday, June 24 by some individuals suspected to be ritualists.