By Emeka Chiaghanam
A shocking twist has emerged in the killing of a Pentecostal
Bishop in Delta State after police in Anambra arrested the late cleric’s driver
for allegedly masterminding the deadly attack and attempting to sell the
victim’s luxury vehicle.
The suspect was picked up in Nkpor, Idemili North Local
Government Area of Anambra State, during a police operation that also led to
the recovery of the stolen Toyota Prado Jeep belonging to the murdered Bishop
of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba.
Police authorities said another suspect believed to be the
intended buyer of the vehicle was equally arrested during the operation.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu,
disclosed the breakthrough on Wednesday while addressing journalists at the
State Police Command Headquarters in Amawbia.
According to the police boss, early investigations showed
that the suspect was not just the Bishop’s driver but also worked closely with
him as a domestic staff member.
Orutugu alleged that the driver teamed up with other
yet-to-be-identified criminals to carry out the murder before fleeing with the
cleric’s Toyota Prado Jeep.
He explained that operatives attached to the Rapid Response
Squad in Awkuzu launched an intelligence-driven operation after receiving
useful information about the movement of the stolen vehicle into Anambra State.
The police tracked the suspects to Nkpor where they were
intercepted while allegedly trying to dispose of the Prado Jeep.
“The operation led to the arrest of the suspect and another
individual suspected to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle,” the commissioner
said.
He confirmed that the vehicle had been recovered and both suspects were now in custody undergoing further interrogation.
According to Orutugu, investigators are still working to
uncover the full circumstances surrounding the Bishop’s death and to arrest
other members of the gang linked to the crime.
He assured residents that the command would continue working
closely with other security agencies to ensure those responsible face justice.
The police commissioner also used the opportunity to warn
residents about the dangers of employing domestic workers and drivers without
proper background checks.
He urged families and business owners to always verify the
identities and history of people they employ in their homes and offices.
“We encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and
report suspicious movements or behaviour around them,” he added.
Meanwhile, the suspect, while speaking briefly to
journalists, denied taking part in the killing of his employer.
He claimed armed men attacked them shortly after arriving
home and forced him to cooperate with them.
According to him, the incident happened after the Bishop
asked him to open the gate on their return home.
“Immediately we arrived and my boss told me to open the
gate, I did not know some people were following us,” he said.
“One of them rushed me, ordered me to lie down and hit me
with a gun. They went inside and threatened to kill me if I shouted or
contacted the police.”
The suspect further claimed that the attackers later
instructed him to look for someone in Onitsha who could buy the vehicle.
He said the supposed buyers eventually arrived and took the
Prado Jeep before police operatives moved in and arrested everyone involved.
However, police authorities insist that ongoing
investigations and available intelligence point strongly to the suspect’s
involvement in the crime.
The killing of the Bishop has continued to generate shock
and anger among residents in Delta and Anambra states, especially within the
Christian community where the cleric was said to be widely respected.
Residents who spoke after the arrest described the
development as heartbreaking, saying it was painful that someone trusted so
closely by the late Bishop could become a prime suspect in such a gruesome
crime.
Police say efforts are ongoing to track down every person connected
to the murder as investigations continue.
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