Metro

Police Arrest Pastor For Alleged Kidnaping Of Church Members Children

Published

6 months ago

November 17, 2023

Editor

The controversial founder of Christ High Commission Church, Araromi-Ugbesi in Omuo-Oke, Ekiti State, Noah Abraham, who was in the news last year for allegedly collecting three hundred and ten thousand Naira from church members as a ticket to heaven has been re-arrested for more grievous offences.

This time around, the controversial Pastor was arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command in collaboration with the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for the alleged kidnapping of over nine persons including minors and impregnating the wife of his choir coordinator.

It was gathered that some of the hostages were children of his members whom he had hypnotized, brainwashed and set against their parents.

Narrating their ordeal, some of the parents of the children who were kept hostage, church members and even the legal wife of Pastor Abraham, who had staged a protest to the Ekiti State Police Command pleaded with the Government and appropriate authorities to assist them in getting their children, wife and relatives out of the captivity of the Pastor.

According to them, Pastor Abraham forced their children to withdraw from school while a 27-year-old man who was already working in an unnamed company where he was given an official vehicle was asked to resign and kept in the camp without a specific mission

Speaking with Journalists, the choir coordinator of the church, Mr Dare Ikuenayo confirmed that the pastor snatched and impregnated the mother of his three children.

He said: “I joined the church in Kabba, Kogi State but one day, the pastor called me and notified me that my wife had a gift of prophesy that I should allow her to stay with him for a month and work for God which I oblige.

“But suddenly I noticed that my wife was not even willing to see or talk to me. While I was trying to raise eyebrows, the pastor announced in the church that he had taken my wife and no one could take her from him.

“I tried my best but all to no avail until he impregnated her and moved her into his house fully.”

In her testimony, the wife of the pastor, Mrs Mary Abraham said after they came together to Omuo-Ekiti for the aborted heavenly mission, her husband came in one night and asked her to move out because he wanted the wife of the choir coordinator to move in.

According to her, “He said the present work in his hand requires the woman to be with him and that was how he forced me out and denied me access to my three children.

“He withdrew all of my children from school, and made their lives miserable, I wept when I saw my son yesterday after the police brought him here. I am begging Nigerians to help me take my children from him.”

Similarly, one of the pastors working under Abraham, said his son, who was already working in a reputable institution was asked to resign and held hostage.

The Pastor said, “Even when I logged in complaint at the police station, I was offered access to two of my three children but on our way home he called them and asked them to run back which they did.

“He is always telling us that we have different curses and evil spirits working against us, he would ask us to sell our property and bring the money to him. I have invested almost 7 million in the church, I am left with nothing. Even my children don’t want to see me, I don’t know what he did to them.”

Another old woman who is the elder sister to Pastor Abraham alleged that he took almost a million naira from her on different occasions on the account that he wanted to cleanse her of evil spirits.

It was also gathered that there are many other complaints against Pastor Abraham with different stories too elaborate and sensitive for media publication.

Reacting, Pastor Abraham said the heaven ticket saga was his first assignment, saying he was done with what God had sent him to earth to do and he was ready to go back to his creator.

He said he was fulfilled because he had concluded his assignments as directed by God while declining to give any reason for his actions.

Meanwhile, the wife of the coordinator whom the founder impregnated is still at large.

In a chat with journalists, the spokesman for the Ekiti State Police Command, DSP, Sunday Abutu said the investigation is ongoing in collaboration with NAPTIP, saying the police would revert to the next line of action.

Recall that Pastor Abraham was arrested on the 27th of April, 2022 in Omuo-Ekiti after he converged over forty persons in a camp and collected the sum of three hundred and ten thousand Naira from each of them as a ticket fee to heaven but was granted bail at a Magistrate court.
VANGUARD

Metro

Police Rescue Kidnapped Children In Lagos, Arrest Abductors

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Men of the Lagos State Command have arrested one Tewase Peter and Ternugwa Paul for abducting two teenagers from Benue State.

A statement released today May 13 by the spokesperson of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, says the victims, Precious and Agera, were rescued from their abductees in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He stated that the victims were kidnapped while their mother was at the market.

The statement in part reads: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted from their home in Benue State while their mother was away in the market.

“After the mother’s numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the older victim via his mobile phone, a Good Samaritan answered the phone while the suspects were not at home with the victims, and informed the mother that one of the suspects, Peter, accompanied by his friend, one Paul, had taken her daughters to Lagos with intentions to transport them to Ghana for forced labour.

“Upon receiving the information at the Lagos State Police Command, detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department busted Peter’s place at Itaoluwo, Ikorodu, and rescued the victims successfully.

“Investigation is ongoing to apprehend all other individuals involved in this crime. Suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigations.”

Metro

Three Suspects Connected To Series Of Kidnappings In Delta Arrested

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested three suspected cultists in connection with a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and other communities in the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, May 12, 2024, said an automatic pump action gun and a new AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine were recovered from the suspects.

“On 9/5/2024 at about 0430hrs, the special team deployed to Ughelli by the commissioner of Police Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi led by ASP Julius Robinson acting on technically generated intelligence stormed Oghara town and arrested a 28yrs suspect, who is a member of Eiye confraternity resident in Oghara Delta State,” the statement read.

“The suspect led the operatives to a hotel in Koko Junction Oghara where another suspect aged 46yrs and a member of Eiye confraternity was arrested and an automatic Pump Action gun was recovered from him.

“Consequently, upon further interrogation of the two suspects, they led the operatives to the arrest of another 32-year-old suspect in Sapele Delta State where one new AK-47 rifle with and an empty magazine were recovered.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects are linked to a series of kidnappings in Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, and the environs. The suspects are in custody and the investigation is ongoing.”

Metro

Police Arrest three-member One-chance Syndicate Terrorizing Residents In Rivers

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three members of a notorious one-chance syndicate terrorizing residents on flyovers in Port Harcourt and its environs.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, May 13, 2024, said the gang targeted women exclusively, with victims being severely beaten and robbed.

According to the PPRO, the arrested suspects, including a woman, made useful confessions that would lead to the arrest of the remaining members of the gang.

Iringe-Koko added that the gang managed to extort 1.8 million Naira from one victim using ATM cards and a POS machine.

“The Rivers State Police Command has recently made significant strides in the fight against crimes in the state, with the apprehension of a gang specializing in armed robbery and kidnapping on flyovers,” the statement read.

“This group, notorious for preying on unsuspecting victims using the one-chance tactic, has been a growing concern for authorities and residents of the state

“The gang, consisting of four individuals, operates under the guise of passengers in a taxi, targeting victims on flyovers. The modus operandi involves brandishing weapons such as a locally made pistol and daggers to intimidate victims before robbing them of their possessions.

“The gang’s criminal activities commenced in October 2023 when their leader, Smart Obele (currently at large), initiated the one-chance scheme with Michael Gershon, a native of Ikolinem-Ikot-Okon in Esemudim Local Government Area. Michael, aged 27, agreed to use his vehicle for these operations after a meeting over beer bottles, where the details were discussed.

“Nsikak Ibanga, aged 26, was introduced by Michael, having arrived in Port Harcourt from Akwa-Ibom state. Nsikak, described as a ‘fearless operator,’ joined the gang alongside Peace Paul, aged 22, who was informed by Michael that he would be sending her money frequently for withdrawal.

“The gang strategized their operations, targeting women exclusively and executing their plans every week starting at 9 pm. Their criminal activities were fueled by violence, with victims being severely beaten and robbed. Notably, they managed to extort 1.8 million Naira from one victim using ATM cards and a POS machine.

The apprehension of three suspects, Michael, Nsikak, and Peace, has resulted in confessions and cooperation with authorities to capture the remaining members of the gang. The Police have recovered the operational vehicle, an ash-coloured Mazda 323, and are commended for their use of technology in crime prevention.

“Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, urges residents to report suspicious activities promptly, emphasizing the Police’s commitment to ensuring public safety and combating criminal elements in Rivers State.”