Apostolic Church of Christ cleric, Pastor Izuchukwu Anoloba who allegedly kidnapped a Catholic priest and collected a ransom of N1.5m in Imo state has confessed that he regretted his actions.
According to Pastor Izuchukwu: “I never knew I will be arrested. I regret my actions because I am now a disgrace to the body of Christ and my family.”
The pastor-turned kidnapper, reportedly, admitted that he indeed pastors in one of the branches of Apostolic church, upholding he actually collected N1.5m as his own share of the N5million ransom paid.
He said, “I am a pastor with the Apostolic Church of Christ in Lagos. I got N1.5 million from the kidnap of the priest.”
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini confirmed Izuchukwu’s arrest, parading the pastor alongside other suspects in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
“It will interest you all to know that a total of 29 suspects were arrested in the commission of different crimes, especially kidnapping and armed robbery while a total of 13 firearms, 89 ammunition of different calibres, and nine vehicles of different types were recovered,” he told reporters during the briefing on Thursday.
The CP revealed, the Catholic Priest, Fidelis Ekemgba who was double-crossed and whisked away by the armed men, spent about seven days with his captors.
Reports say, the 45-year-old priest who was in charge of St. Peters Catholic parish in Umunohu Amakaohia in the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of the state was made to pay N5 million to the abductors before his eventual release.
The CP noted that the pastor was arrested in Lagos State just from intelligence gathering by men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the command who had swung into action immediately they were tipped.
While commending his men for a job well done, the CP reaffirmed he would continue to make the state uncomfortable for criminals.
“As we all know, the Christmas season is at hand and there are tendencies for increase in crime. To this end, we shall leave no stone unturned in our efforts to rid Imo State of crime and criminality,” the CP said
Pastor Izuchukwu Anoloba and 12 others were arrested over the abduction of a Catholic priest and 13 other residents in Imo State.
