The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has taken into custody Pastor Uche Aigbe of House on the Rock Cathedral in Abuja for illegal firearm possession. Along with Aigbe, the Church’s Chief Security Officer and Inspector Musa Audu have also been arrested, according to Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory.
The pastor was seen in a widely circulated video on Sunday wielding an assault rifle during a church service. The police began an investigation into the matter and subsequently announced the arrest of the pastor and the other two individuals late Monday.
According to the police statement, “The pastor, whose actions and sermons were labeled as inflammatory by various media outlets and social media users, was arrested on Monday, February 13th, 2023, along with the Church Chief Security Officer and Inspector Musa Audu, who was on duty that day and improperly gave his rifle to the pastor without permission or reporting to the police.
As an investigation has begun, the public is urged to avoid any actions or statements that violate existing laws, as the law is clear and violators will be punished.”
In response, the church issued a statement on Monday saying that the pastor’s message was about fighting with spiritual weapons and that he carried an “unloaded gun” to illustrate his message on “Guarding your Faith.” The statement also highlighted that Uche has been a leader in the church since 1999 and has always displayed exemplary leadership.
The statement went on to say, “However, he acknowledges that even with the best intentions, carrying a gun to illustrate his message was a mistake and he deeply regrets it. Pastor Uche has unreservedly apologized for his actions and their gravity.
As a church, House On The Rock condemns all forms of violence and stands for the good news gospel of Jesus Christ, which promotes peace and goodwill for all mankind. We are fully cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation and will take internal measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.”