By: RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The Police in Lagos have begun a manhunt for the founder of a Lagos based Pentecostal church for allegedly running an illegal agency, impersonating the police and extorting unsuspecting members of the public.
Meanwhile, two members of the agency have been arrested by the police and are presently undergoing interrogation at the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Lagos command over the alleged criminal act.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that survelliance has been placed at the house and church premises of the cleric to monitor his movement, as he is said to have gone into hiding.
Identified as Chief J.O Oni, founder of Chosen Ministry, located at Association Avenue Road in Ijeshatedo area of the state, the pastor was alleged to have been operating an illegal group named Police Assistance Committee of Nigeria (PAC) with which he deceived unsuspecting members of the public that the agency is an arm of the police and extorts them through his accomplice.
He was accused of kitting his operatives with trousers and black t-shirts with police insignia, but with a difference of letter “Y”.
Two, out of his operatives, identified as Mrs. Jumoke Mutairu and Mr.Johnson Uzoma, according to sources were arrested on Tuesday at Bishop street, off Agege Motor Road, by police detectives attached to Alakara police station.
They were said to have been arrested following outcry by some members of the public who alleged that the suspects were extorting unsuspecting citizens in broad day light under the guise of working with the police.
” On 20/6/2018, at about 1.30pm, based on public outcry that wonder shall never end. When did police started going to from door to door extorting money from the public in broad day light.
Following the report, police swung into action and at Bishop street off Agege Motor Road, Mrs. Jumoke Mutairu and Johnson Uzoma were arrested all in black T-shirts with police insignia, but the only difference on it is the letter Y”, the source informed.
He added that the sum of N4,300.00 extorted were recovered from them with a black beret and face cap at the time of the arrest.
Under interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed to the crime, adding that their daily returns are being rendered to Chief Oni, who they identified as their boss.
The suspects were said to have further disclosed that they were recruited by the said now at large Oni and provided with the uniforms, identity cards after the payment of recruitment fee and other charges.
” We are 10 operatives employed by Chief Oni and our operational routes for now are Itire, Ijeshatedo and Oshodi axis. The group has been in operations for about 15 years. Our mode of operation is that we go from door to door, telling the people that we work with the police to gather information on security alert and ask them to register with us. We collect as much as N1,500.00 each for registration”, the suspects were quoted to have made the confession.
The suspects were said to have further disclosed that they are remunerated based on their daily returns.
Efforts to get the comments of the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti on the matter proved abortive as he failed to pick his call.
However, a police source confirmed to our correspondent that the Commissioner of Police Edgal Imohimi has directed operatives to be vigilant and effect the arrest of the fleeing boss of the group.
