Founder of Jesus the Rock of Salvation Healing Ministry, in Owerri, Imo State, Pastor Chiedozie Anochima, has been arrested over the fatal robbery of a Zenith Bank branch on February 22, 2017.
The arrest was carried out by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Imo State Police Command during a church service on Sunday.
Two policemen were killed and another injured after robbers stormed the Wetheral Road branch of Zenith Bank in Owerri, the state capital.
One of the robbers was killed during the operation which made national headlines after its recording went viral on the internet.
A police source said on Wednesday that the arrest of the last member of the gang, Chinonso Onwugbuchulam, one year after the incident, led to arrest the pastor, according to The PUNCH.
The source disclosed that it was in the course of interrogation that Onwuegbuchulam, who was arrested by F-SARS operatives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, mentioned the pastor’s name.
“Onwuegbuchulam named one Pastor Chiedozie Anochima as one of them. The pastor is 36 years old and he is the founder of Jesus the Rock of Salvation Healing Ministry, a church in Urratta, in the Owerri North LGA,” the source said.
It was learnt that Onwugbuchulam confessed that the pastor kept the gang’s rifles after operations and prayed for them for protection.
“Onwuegbuchulam led the F-SARS operatives to his church where we arrested him during a church service. The pastor was surprised to see us. We swooped on him and arrested him immediately. That was last Sunday,” the source added.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said the arrest of the pastor was a big breakthrough for the command.
“Yes, it is true. We have arrested the pastor and he is with us. You know that criminal investigation is like kerosene; it spreads. The more you investigate a crime, the more it spreads.
“We are working harder to make sure that all those involved in the bank robbery at Zenith Bank in 2017, do not escape justice. We will parade the pastor before newsmen very soon,” Mr Ezike said.
