The Intelligence Response Team, Force Intelligence Bureau, Garki, Abuja has detained the presiding pastor of House on the Rock, Abuja Branch, Pastor Uche Aigbe, for carrying an AK-47 rifle while preaching in the church on Sunday.
Aigbe threw many into confusion in the church on Sunday when he came in bearing the weapon on his shoulder.
But when the FCT police command commenced an investigation into the incident this morning, it was discovered that the weapon was handed him by one Inspector Audu who was on an assignment in the church.
When interrogated, Audu told the police that he only offered the weapon to Pastor Aigbe because he wanted to use it for illustration.
However, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, Sadiq Abubakar, is having none of this, and has made a recommendation to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to dismiss Inspector Audu.
Meanwhile, House on the Rock has explained why Uche Aigbe, its Presiding Pastor in Abuja, mounted the pulpit carrying an AK-47 rifle.
In a statement on Monday evening, the church said Aigbe carried the gun to illustrate his message to the congregation.
The statement reads: “On Sunday, February 12, a resident pastor of House on the Rock, Abuja Church, Pastor Uche Aigbe in a message about fighting the good fight with spiritual weapons, carried an unloaded gun to illustrate his message on ‘Guarding your Faith.’
“Pastor Uche has been a leader in House on the Rock, Abuja since 1999 and has always shown exemplary leadership. However, he realises that even with the best of intentions, carrying a gun to illustrate his message was ill-advised and regrettable.
“Without hesitation, Pastor Uche has acknowledged the gravity of his actions and apologises unreservedly for them.
“As a church, House on the Rock rejects all forms of violence and we stand on the good news gospel of Jesus Christ which embraces peace and goodwill for all of mankind.
“We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they carry out their investigations into this incident, and we will continue to engage internally to ensure this break in protocol does not happen again.”
