Priest arrested for robbery, kidnapping

Priest Ani

Imeohia Mmaku village in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State recently came under siege of suspected robbers cum kidnappers who invaded the community to perpetrate their heinous crime which was allegedly led by a priest.

Rev. Fr. James Ani clad in a white cassock, in company of about eight other people while carrying out the operation sealed off all entrances to the community and held them by the jugular and laid siege on their prey.

The gang combed parts of the community to see if they could find a prime target on which they could feed. But while the siege lasted, a team of anti- robbery patrol team usually on routine checks on remote parts of the state was passing by and accosted the gang. On seeing the police team, Fr. Ani reportedly commanded his ‘troops’ to launch offensive. Wielding several dangerous weapons, the suspected robbers reportedly engaged the police team in fierce duel which further sent habitants of the community and travellers scampering for safety.

During the clash, Fr. Ani and his gang reportedly got hold of one Inspector Cosmas Nzeribe and a couple of his colleagues, and almost sniffed life out of them. However, the suspected robbers bowed to the superior firepower of the law enforcement agents leading to their arrest. Before they were arrested, the hoodlums damaged the Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number ENUGU XY 770 ENU and another Toyota Toyota Corolla car with registration number KPP 450 XA used by the law enforcement agents.

In the end, Ani and three others; Ugwu Marcel, Obasi Felix and Norbert Eke were arrested and taken to custody. About five other members of the gang reportedly fled from the scene of the attack. A manhunt has already been launched for the fleeing suspects.

At the time of arrest, Ani reportedly informed security operatives that he was not a robber but a priest. However, upon intense interrogation, he confessed to his crime, saying that he was pushed into the crime due to lull in his business.

Spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest of the four suspected robbers, maintained that investigations are ongoing while a manhunt had been launched for the fleeing suspects. 

Wonders they say shall never end!!!