Bishop arrested over kidnapping

POLICE in Warri, Delta State, have arrested a Warri-based bishop of a pentecostal church and another “prophet,” simply identified as Joseph, following an attempted kidnap on the proprietress of a popular private school in Sedco area of Warri.
Police sources confirmed that the partners-in-crime were in detention, after the victim cried out for justice through a petition she sent to the command, registering her dissatisfaction over the manner the case was being handled by Enerhen police station.
In the petition, dated May 20, 2013 and addressed to the area commander, Husseini Rabiu, the victim alleged that the “prophet,” who claimed to be a co-worker in the church of the bishop, was rounded up in her school premises, when he said he wanted to deliver a message, but with the intention to abduct her and a pupil.
According to the petition, “on May 15, 2013 at bout 9.45 a.m, one man came to our client’s school and introduced himself to one of the administrative staffers as a man of God and requested to see the victim, but the administrative staff said she was not around.
“When the victim returned at about 11.00 a.m, the whole episode was narrated to her and she opted for the phone number and got in touch with Joseph (prophet), who eventually agreed to return from Port Harcourt, since he was already there, with the understanding that the victim would foot the bill.”
Joseph, it was reported, allegedly arrived about one hour after the last conversation with him, while he told the victim that he was at Enerhen Junction, asking her to come to see him privately with a little child.
“The victim came out and saw a Toyota Camry car facing Udu Road with a driver on the seat and another occupant but when she became uneasy, she raised the alarm and the waiting car sped off.
“After the incident, the prophet agreed to confess, saying it was a bishop, whose church is on DSC expressway that sent him to come and kidnap her,” it added.
It was gathered that after the arrest, the police in Enerhen station released Joseph on the grounds of mental imbalance, before the area commander ordered the re-arrest on Wednesday evening.
Tribune