Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has reacted to a video of a pastor carrying an AK-47 rifle while preaching in his church in Abuja.
Pastor Uche Aigbe of the House on the Rock Church in Abuja left members of his congregation startled on Sunday after mounting the pulpit brandishing an AK-47.
In a viral video, the pastor could be seen using the AK-47 rifle to illustrate his sermon titled “guard your faith” aware of the tension his action had created, without looking at his worshippers.
But as he made attempt to open his Bible, the preacher looked up and said teasingly, “Some people are looking for my trouble. And I came here prepared.
“Today, there are some pastors with gift of divination who go about ripping people. This is why we should carry our ‘guns’ and defend ourselves. I will particularly be coming very soon for some of you sleeping in the church.”
His response threw the entire gathering into a fit of laughter as he continued preaching on “Guarding your hearts from false teachers” and “faith without work is dead.”
It was, however, not known if the gun he brandished was loaded or not.
Some Nigerians took to social media to express their different opinions. While some users justified the pastor’s actions, others expressed their shock.
“He was using the gun for illustrative purposes as to the topic “Guard your faith” and how critical it is for each Christian to do it. Get the whole news so as not to spread the wrong narrative,” a Twitter user wrote.
“Perhaps he wanted to use it to illustrate a point in his sermon. If that is the case he must require a permit. However, under no circumstance should any civilian be permitted to bear arms in a worship centre in a place considered to be peaceful. He can as well open fire there,” another Twitter user wrote.
https://twitter.com/jchristianalex/status/1624858121075146755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1624858121075146755%7Ctwgr%5Eaf337a11f562f7a1a08a7ea2b0594991f34881a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Flifestyle.thecable.ng%2Fabuja-pastor-brings-ak-47-to-altar%2F
Reacting to the video, the Force’s spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a tweet on Monday said the pastor has a case to answer, as no one is authorized to bear arms except an officer of the law.
According to him, the said video has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for the FCT.
Adejobi wrote, “But if its true, the pastor will have a case to answer. AK47??. It falls under prohibited Firearms in Nigeria, and no one bears it except an officer of the law, and not all of them have the right, selected sec operatives, but no individual has the right to bear it.”
https://twitter.com/Princemoye1/status/1624914528319283200?s=20&t=q0j-CdbEyoK9YSi8gPw0EA
Watch the video below:
KanyiDaily had also reported how kidnappers disguised themselves as worshippers during a church program and abducted Pastor Emmanuel Apeh in Benue State.