2 pastors nabbed with live cartridge, coffins, fake passports

Two clerics have been arrested in Rivers State by youths and handed over to operatives of the State Police Command.

The suspects Pastors, Umoren Bassey and Elija Aniete, were arrested on January 20, 2025, by the youths of Rumunduru in Oroigwe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The suspects, aged 60 and 51 respectively, are natives of Akwa-Ibom State.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, noted that preliminary investigations have revealed that bizarre items were found in the church premises, including a live cartridge, sword, two wooden coffins, fake naval passports, and thousands of people’s pictures and passports.

Other items recovered from the church include bottles containing unknown liquids, children’s shoes, calabashes, coconuts, Bibles, police uniforms, and various spiritual items. Notably, there was no python or big casket found among the items, contrary to initial reports.

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She said Bassey’s church, God Deliverance Apostolic Church, and Aniete’s Power House of Glory International Church, are both located along Eneka Road in Rumunduru, Obio-Akpor Council of Rivers State.

Speaking, Bassey claimed he used spiritual materials for prayer, as directed by God, alleging that the community planted some of the items found in his church and searched his house without a warrant.

According to him, “You can use water and oil to heal people. I have lived there (community) for so long. It is a land case. I still have three weeks after court judgment that asked me to quit. They used it to step me up. The community planted some of the materials they claimed they saw in my church. They searched my house without warrant.

“I have been healing people, and helping the community. I have lived there for 17 years. Some of the pictures you saw there are that of my Son and some are that 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.”

Also speaking, Aniete claimed that he owns a church and was visiting Bassey to discuss maritime-related issues, saying “I own a church. What brought me here is that we belong to an organization of Maritime Rescue Coastal Security. Bassey is the captain in the Maritme.