Police uncover six rifles in Delta church, arrest pastor

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have recovered six rifles from an uncompleted building on church premises in Asaba .

The resident pastor of the church , Fidelix Nwansa , was also arrested .

Nwansa , who is in charge of the Christ Holy Church , was nabbed for alleged gunrunning on the pretext of providing security for churches and hotels in the area alongside vigilante groups .

Confirming the incident , the state Commissioner of Police , Mr Hafiz Inuwa , told journalists on Thursday that the pastor ’ s arrest was made by his men two days earlier during a mop - up operation .

The CP stated , “ Some people from across the Niger have started or are bringing in vigilantes and criminals to Delta State in the name of providing security for churches and hotels , forgetting the fact that it is illegal to do that , because a vigilante from another state cannot come and operate in this state .

“ Secondly , they are carrying sophisticated firearms . There is every indication that once they bring these people , they are also engaged in criminality . So, we have recovered six pump action rifles . ”

Inuwa added that his operatives also arrested the head of a vigilante group , simply identified as Freeman .