Pictures: 2 Nigerian Pastors, Church Founders Arrested In Imo State With 5 AK47 Rifles, Guns They Bought For Biafran Group

Detectives attached to the Monitoring Unit of the
Imo State police command have arrested two
General Overseers (GO) for alleged gunrunning.
The suspects, Clifford Nmenabu, founder, God
Covenant of Christ the King Sabbath Missionary
and Festus Daniel Igwe of Zion House of Prayer
Sabbath Missionary were alleged to have
procured five AK47 rifles for use during the
forthcoming general elections.
Speaking on how the suspects were busted, the
state Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali told
Saturday Sun that the command acted on a tip-
off which indicated that the suspects had
acquired some firearms.
According to him: “On February 13, 2015,
policemen led by the officer in charge of the
Monitoring Unit, Superintendent of Police, Linus
Nwaiwu stormed their churches in Oru East Local
Government Area, arrested and recovered all the
guns.”
CP Ali explained that in the course of in­
vestigation, it was discovered that the clerics
were contracted by one Mr K. Nnamdi who they
claim is based in London.
“The two clerics were given an advance cash of
N300,000 for 10 pieces of AK 47 rifles and to be
given a cash balance of N1.2million as soon as
they deliver. The suspects were nabbed when
they were about to hand over the five AK47 rifles
to a group of persons who claim to be repre­
senting Biafra in the church premises of Pastor
Igwe.”
The police boss also said that his command has
declared Nnamdi wanted and would charge the
suspects to court at the end of the investigation.
One of the suspects, Pastor Nmenabu, 67, said
that apart from his ministry, he is dealing in
arms. “I am the General Overseer of God
Covenant of Christ the King Sabbath Missionary.
I have been in the ministry for over 35 years. I am
also into buying and selling of arms and
ammunition. I was listening to Radio Biafra
London when the broadcaster, who introduced
himself as Nnamdi, gave out a number through
which he can be reached. I called him and he ex­
plained that he is the coordinator of the popular
Biafra group.
“I told him who I am and what I can do for the
group. He gave me the contract and I decided to
ask my fellow priest, Igwe who has contacts. He
offered to pay N1.2 million for 10 AK47 rifles. He
gave us N300, 000 as a deposit. We were waiting
for the balance when policemen stormed my
house and arrested us”, he confessed.The second
suspect, High Priest Festus Igwe, 63, said that he
is willing to assist the police to track down
Nnamdi who is currently on the run. “I am the GO
of the Zion House of Prayers Sabbath Mission. I
was in the church, when Pastor Nmenabu
contacted me that there is a good business on
ground. I rushed to his church and gave me the
details. Luckily, I still had contact with some arms
dealers in Imo state.
He also introduced me to Nnamdi who gave us
an advance fee of N300,000.
“We had delivered the five AK47 rifles and was
waiting for Nnamdi to bring the balance when the
police arrived. I am very sorry. I am ready to
assist the police to track down Nnamdi” , he
stated.

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