Anambra Pastor Allegedly Nabbed With 12 Stolen Children

The police have arrested a popular radio preacher and founder of Gospel Fire Army Ministry in Anambra State, Chinedu Strongson, over child abduction and trafficking in persons after he was allegedly caught with 12 stolen children.

Nigerian Tribune reports the 48-year-old cleric was paraded on Saturday at the police headquarters, Asaba, Delta State, along with 43 other criminals arrested for kidnapping, robbery, murder, cultism and car theft.

Parading the suspects, the state police commissioner, Zana Ibrahim, confirmed 12 stolen children were rescued from the pastor and two of them have been reunited with their parents while the others are at an orphanage in Asaba pending identification by their families. He added that the pastor allegedly paid N400,000 for each child sold to him.

The pastor’s bubble reportedly burst when one Aisha Yahaya in Asaba reported how two ladies came to her house pretending to be police detectives sent by her husband, now serving at Ogwashi Uku prisons. She revealed she followed them to a junction where they met one Abigail Nwakama, also known as Madam Cash, who gave her N3,500 to buy clothes for her one-month-old daughter.

Her daughter was allegedly stolen in the process by her supposed helpers, and she raised the alarm, leading to the arrest of the two ladies she followed to the junction.

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Following further investigations, one Onyinye Nwakama, daughter of Madam Cash, was also arrested at a drinking bar in Asaba. Four other members of the syndicate, Madam Cash and one Ifeoma Anyadike, both 32, were also later arrested, and they led detectives to Ogidi, where the embattled pastor was arrested.

The pastor has however denied any involvement with the syndicate, claiming he is only out to help humanity and that included paying the school fees of needy children.