Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have apprehended a General Overseer, identified as Bishop Godfrey, along with his wife and several church associates, in connection with an attempted kidnapping of another bishop in Agbarho, Ughelli North local government area.
The police arrested the cleric and his accomplices, which included an assistant pastor, church elders, and a few members, after intercepting threatening messages sent to the targeted bishop. The suspects are currently detained at the Ughelli Police A’ Division, where military uniforms were also discovered during a search.The detained bishop allegedly sent a text message threatening to kidnap and assassinate the other bishop while demanding a ransom of N150,000. The victim managed to send N100,000 to an account provided in the message, but subsequent delays in sending the remaining N50,000 led to multiple threatening messages.
In the messages, the suspect, who identified himself as a member of the Black Axe cult, demanded the ransom and warned of severe consequences if the payment was not completed. One of the texts read in Pidgin English, “Hello Bishop, this is me, Dust to Dust, member Black Axe cultist (Eye) Ugolo Zone. Be informed that we were asked to assassinate you, kidnap and kill you right in your church at Agbarho but we therefore decided to change our mind based on one condition.”
Further threats followed as the payment deadline approached, with the suspect detailing their capacity for violence and previous crimes. They warned the bishop to transfer the remaining money or face dire consequences, stating, “Do not bother to come to your church on Sunday as we are going to shoot you on your head and chest to ensure that you did not survive.”
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed the arrests and the recovery of incriminating items, including three army uniforms and over 20 SIM cards from the General Overseer’s residence. He assured that investigations are ongoing to fully uncover the extent of the crime.“Investigation is on to unravel the incident,” Bright said.The case has drawn significant attention and highlights ongoing security challenges in the region. The police continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.