The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Abuja Command has detained the presiding pastor of House on the Rock (Abuja chapter), Pastor Uche Aigbe, for carrying an AK-47 on the pulpit.
Recall that the Police have commenced an investigation on Aigbe after a video of him carrying an AK-47 surfaced on social media.
It was learnt that one Inspector Musa Audu handed his rifle to Aigbe.
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Sadiq Abubakar, made a recommendation to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to dismiss the police officer, Inspector Audu.
Audu, it was learnt, will be facing an orderly room trial for handing over his rifle to the Presiding Pastor, House on the Rock, Abuja Chapter, Uche Aigbe, on Sunday.
Another source further confirmed that the officer had been detained and would be facing an 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.
“Audu has now been detained alongside the pastor. But the FCT CP has submitted a recommendation to the IG for Audu’s dismissal, and he will be facing an orderly room trial soon.”
However, sources within House on the Rock Church revealed that the church founder, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, has not been happy 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 throughout yesterday, 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.”
