General overseer of evangelical church arrested for being a member of a car snatching gang

MEN of the Ogun State Police Command has arrested Pastor Daniel Onwugbufor the general overseer of God’s Favour Ministry in Iba on the border with Lagos State for alleged car snatching.

On Thursday February 1, the clergyman was arrested along with one Israel Animashaun by men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, said their arrests followed a series of car snatching reports which the command had been trying to unravel.

He said police efforts paid off when one of the snatched cars, a Lexus RX 330 Jeep, was tracked to the pastor’s residence at Iba. Mr Oyeyemi explained that the pastor’s arrest led to the apprehension of Mr Animashaun, an active member of a three-man gang which specialised in snatching exotic cars at gunpoint.

According to the police, Mr Animashaun confessed that his gang snatched the Lexus Jeep at gunpoint at Ajah, Lagos and took it to the pastor, who used to help them in selling such items.  Mr Animashaun also confessed that the pastor paid him N350,000 for the car and the clergyman then used the car for two weeks before transferring it to another accomplice in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Mr Oyeyemi said: “The pastor, who first denied knowing Animashaun to be an armed robber, later confessed when confronted by the said Animashaun. He blamed his action on the devil.”