The Abia State Police Command has arrested a pastor who specialises in stealing Camry cars.

Prophet Onyenweaku Chinunnam said he hails from Ezinihite, Mbaise, Imo State, and was ordained a priest in The Apostolic Church after passing out from a theological school.

The priest-turned-car thief told newsmen that he is the founder of Redeemed Assembly domiciled in Ohafia, Abia State.

He was arrested together with his accomplice, Princewill Nnabugwu, who hails from Osisioma Ngwa in Abia State.

The duo were nabbed in Ohafia by security men in collaboration with the local vigilante while trying to escape with a green-coloured Camry car with registration Number: Lagos: FT 953 LSR, belonging to Mr Ikenna Ngwuoke.

Ngwuoke, who also hails from Ohafia, told News Express that last Saturday, he went on a condolence visit to one of his bereaved relatives who was burying his father and parked his car outside the compound.

On his way out, Ngwuoke said, he discovered that his car had disappeared from where it was parked. When a search for the vehicle could not yield any positive result, he said, he alerted the local vigilante and equally reported the incident to the police.

He said that by early Sunday morning, the police informed him that his car has been found.

New Abia State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, while parading the two suspects at the Police Officers Mess, Umuahia Wednesday, said the suspected car jackers who specialise in stealing Camry cars with a master key were arrested last Monday.

Items recovered from them include a master key used to unlock Camry cars, several fake vehicle plate numbers, among others.

Chibunnam, who was the Guest Speaker at a recent crusade organised by The Apostolic Church, Ezeke Assembly, Amasiri District in Ebonyi State, confessed to the crime, saying that he sells the stolen cars to one Maxwell who lives in Port Harcourt. It was learnt that he used the proceeds to purchase a jeep and musical equipment for his church.

According to him, members of his church were unaware of his car stealing business. He said he regretted his action.

The Police Commissioner, Oyebade, said the swift arrest of the suspects was to serve notice to criminals to vacate Abia as the state has become unsafe for them.

His words: “Let me sound this note of warning. I am here for work and we are going to sniff out all the criminals that are disturbing the peace of Abians.

“I am using this opportunity to tell them that we are going to put in place a strategy that is going to endure and we are going to ensure that there is peace for everybody to enjoy in Abia.

“The international bandits, those that criss-cross from the neighbouring states, they must leave Abia. Car snatching will not be tolerated, we are going to fight heinous crimes – kidnapping, robbery and armed robbery – to a standstill. We have all it takes to ensure that peace reigns in Abia unabated.”

•Photo by Boniface Okoro shows Pastor-turned-robber Onyenweaku Chinunnam and his accomplice paraded in Umuahia by Commissioner of Police, Abia State.