CITIZENS COMPASS– FOLLOWING a video on social media which revealed the presiding pastor of House on the Rock, Abuja, Uche Aigbe carrying an AK 47 rifle while on pulpit on Sunday, the Intelligence Response Team, Force Intelligence Bureau, Garki, Abuja, has detained the pastor and a Police Inspector Musa Audu.
This followed information that the Inspector allegedly released his rifle to the pastor.
Sources hinted that a police officer, Inspector Musa Audu, while on church duty on the same day had released his rifle to the pastor without permission.”
During interrogations, it was learnt that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Abubakar made a recommendation for Audu’s dismissal as he is currently facing an orderly room trial for handing over his rifle to the Presiding Pastor.
It was learnt that Aigbe had caused a stir on Sunday when he mounted the pulpit carrying the rifle during the second service, which frequently has a high turnout of the congregation who comes from different parts of the FCT.
The pastor was seen on the altar as many members of his congregation exchanged glances trying to understand what was happening.
It could not be ascertained if the gun he brandished was loaded or not.
An unflinching Aigbe walked up to the lectern, aware of the tension his action had created, without looking at his worshippers.
But as he made attempt to open his Bible, the preacher looked up and said teasingly, “Some people are looking for my trouble. And I came here prepared.
“Today, there are some pastors with gift of divination who go about ripping people. This is why we should carry our ‘guns’ and defend ourselves. I will particularly be coming very soon for some of you sleeping in the church.”
His response threw the entire gathering into a fit of laughter as he continued preaching on “Guarding your hearts from false teachers” and “faith without work is dead.”
Meanwhile, impeccable sources who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Monday, February 13, 2023, said the police swung into action immediately.
A source said, “We got the report at about 10:50 pm on Sunday on PUNCH Newspaper’s online publication that Pastor Uche Aigbe of the House on the Rock Church mounted the pulpit with an AK 47 rifle.
Our discrete investigation later revealed that a police officer, Inspector Musa Audu, while on church duty on the same day had released his rifle to the pastor without permission.”
Another source further confirmed that the officer had been detained and would be facing orderly trial.
“The Inspector has been arrested. When he was questioned, he noted that he gave the gun to the pastor for demonstration purposes during church service.
However, sources within House on the Rock Church revealed that the church founder, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, was unhappy with Aigbe concerning the situation, and Aigbe may likely be transferred out of Abuja.
The source also said the senior church members had been angry with Aigbe since the news broke out, adding that the pastor had not been himself since the report of the incident made it to the public.
When contacted, the FCT Police Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she would get back to our correspondent concerning the progress of the case.
“We’re on the case, I’ll get back to you on our progress soon,” Adeh said.
Meanwhile, the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who tweeted on Sunday and Monday, said the police had commenced an investigation into the incident, adding that the Inspector General of Police had ordered the CP, FCT to handle the case.
“We have requested the video of the service to hear what the pastor was saying. How did he get the gun, maybe from a security agent. He has been invited by the CP FCT. The IGP has ordered the CP to handle it and revert, so that Nigerians will know what transpired. Thanks,” Adejobi tweeted on Monday.
Tweeting on Sunday, he said, “If it’s true, the pastor will have a case to answer. AK47?? It falls under prohibited firearms in Nigeria, and no one bears it except an officer of the law, and not all of them have the right, only selected security operatives, but no individual has the right to bear it.”
– Punch.
