Popular Pastor Caught With Gun During Police Stop and Search
The pastor was arrested along with his bodyguard with a Toyota Hilux van painted in military colour, which registration number was concealed. The police said it was being used to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public into believing that the organisation is a paramilitary organisation recognised by law.
Parading both men before journalist at the police headquarters in Lokoja, the Kogi State police commissioner, Seidu Madawaki said his men also arrested one Saliu Mohammed who claims to be Pastor Balogun’s bodyguard with a short gun.
The commissioner said Saliu confessed that the pistol was given to him by his boss who he said, was the commandant general of the Mission for African Chaplaincy.
He said a search was conducted on the house and two cartridges were recovered with one other already expended...It was gathered that at public functions in the state, members of the organisation kit up like military personnel and usurp the functions of security agencies and harass innocent citizens with their military camouflage.
CP Madawaki said when police detectives led the suspect to his boss’ house; the boss admitted that he was the one who gave the gun to Mohammed to be protecting him with. Other items recovered in his house were detectives’ gadgets and some paramilitary uniforms.
The commissioner said the painting of their vehicle in military colour and the concealing of the number plate portray an intent for criminality, adding that the activities of the chaplaincy had constituted a threat to the state as thousands of people including the jobless and civil servants had been brainwashed to join the organisation as a paramilitary organisation in the country.
In his confession, Pastor Balogun said he acquired the guns illegally and begged with the police to forgive him. He claims he and his organisation has been organising series of prayer sessions for the police, the military and other security agencies.
