The Police in Delta have arrested the resident pastor of Christ Holy Church Asaba, Fidelis Nwansa, for allegedly possessing six rifles.
The PRO of the Delta State Police Command, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the news on Thursday, and disclosed that the rifles were discovered in the church premises.
According to the police spokesman, the pastor claimed after his arrest that he belonged to a local vigilante group in Anambra and was using the rifles to protect his church, a claim the police authorities are currently investigating.
The Police Commissioner in the State, Hafiz Inuwa, informed the media that the pastor was arrested during a mop up operation around Asaba.
According to the police boss, “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.”
Security has become a major challenge in most parts of the country and in Delta, the situation is equally dire with reports of killing by alleged herdsmen, armed robbery and other forms of criminality which give keep residents on the edge every now and again.
