From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Rivers Police Command on Thursday paraded two alleged fake pastors apprehended by youths in Rumunduru, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), disclosed to journalists that the Youth President of Rumunduru community, Henry Worlu, apprehended the suspects on 20 January 2024 and handed them over to the Police.
She identified the suspects as Umoren Bassey and Elijah Aniete, both from Akwa Ibom State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) stated that during the raid, the Police recovered one cartridge, a sword, a fake naval passport, thousands of pictures of people, one child’s shoe, various crosses, and spiritual materials. However, she debunked allegations that a live python and human skull were recovered.
One of the suspects, Umoren Bassey, of the Church of God Apostolic Deliverance in Eneka, Rumunduru, claimed he uses spiritual materials in his prayers as directed by God.
He said: “You can use water and oil to heal people. I have lived there so long. It is a land case. I still have three weeks after a court judgement asked me to quit.
“They used it to set me up. The community planted some of the materials they claimed they saw in my church. They searched my house without a warrant.
“I have been healing people, helping the community. I have lived there for 17 years. Some of the pictures you saw there were that of my son, and some are of my members.
“I use the small casket or miracle life oil to pray for mad persons. The mad person must be calm within three months. I use it to help the community people.”
Another suspect, Elijah Aniete, of the Power of God House Ministry, revealed that he was in Bassey’s church having a meeting with him when OSPAC (a vigilance group) and the community came and arrested them.
However, the Youth President of Rumunduru, Henry Worlu, told journalists that he was alerted by the OSPAC commander in the community that Pastor Bassey was performing a sacrifice by the roadside.
He said: “In the morning, we went to his church, and he denied it. He refused us entry until we opened his chamber and saw all these items.
“We did not see a python or human body. Nobody assaulted him. We just handed them over to the Police.”