When Pastor John Andrew, from Bauchi State, procured AK47 riffle and other arms illegally, for what he called, ‘self-protection’, he never knew he was setting the stage to go to jail. “When I got the arms, I thought of using them to protect myself and members of my family, because of the incessant attacks on us, by some unidentified persons,” he told journalists, after he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. He was convicted by the Chief Magistrate Court 7.
According to the pastor, he was attacked thrice, resulting in his decision to purchase weapons to protect himself against further attacks.
“Honestly, I’m sorry, particularly, to the members of my church, who I have always told to be peaceful and law-abiding citizens. Also, I have always told them to learn how to live peacefully with their neighbours, irrespective of the level of provocation. But we were being attacked on regular basis, and you know, we in the villages need to protect ourselves from such attacks. That was why procurement of the arms became necessary for our self-protection,” he insisted.
But, ignorance of the law, they say, is not an excuse, as the trial Magistrate, Emmanuel Danjuma, ruled that having confessed to the offence as charged, the court had no other option than to sentence him accordingly.
The magistrate, who said he took cognizance of the fact that the convicted pastor was a first offender and a cleric, sentenced him to two years imprisonment but with an option of fine of N15, 150. And on the second count charge, Andrew was handed down 18 months imprisonment also, with an option fine of N10, 580. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The father of five, who is a member of COCIN church in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State, however, apologized to his fellow Christians to forgive him, adding that he had learnt his lessons in a hard way.
He claimed it was his grandfather, who taught him how to make use of a gun.
“I have learnt my lessons, though, in a hard way but I can assure you that such thing will not repeat itself. I’m advising people to live together in peace, because without it, we cannot achieve any meaningful progress in life.”
“My grandfather taught me how to shoot. We used dane guns then, but to be frank with you, I don’t know how to use these modern weapons. One AK47 and five other arms were found in my possession, after the last attack on us,” Andrew confessed.
The prosecuting counsel, Geraldine Longtsen, had earlier told the court how the pastor was arrested by officers and men of the State Security Service (SSS), Bauchi Command, who acted on a tip-off.
The security men were said to have received information that some individuals were engaging in gunrunning and stepped up manhunt for them. The court was told that arms, (AK47 riffle, two locally-made riffles and pistols), were recovered from him, contrary to Sections 96 of the Penal Code and Section 3(1) of the Firearms Suggested Laws, Cap 146 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution disclosed that the pastor, arrested in his house, had no licence to possess arms as required by the law.
A source at the SSS disclosed that the security men had been on the trail of Andrew and others, after they got information concerning the illegal possession of dangerous weapons.
According to him, the agency would leave no stone unturned, to ensure that those involved in gunrunning in the State are apprehended and brought to justice.
He narrated all the efforts made by the pastor to evade arrest, before he was nabbed and brought to their office.
He said: “We are determined to mop up all the hideouts, where dangerous weapons are kept in the State. This is necessary for us, if we are to have a hitch-free election in the State in April 2011. We are also determined to see that innocent people go about their legitimate businesses without hindrances. All the criminals will be flushed out by the grace of God.
All religions preach against violence, so, we want people to separate religion from crime. That is why we treat cases objectively, without allowing religious sentiments to becloud our sense of judgment.”
‘My grandfather taught me how to shoot. We used dane guns then, but to be frank with you, I don’t know how to use these modern weapons.
One AK47 and five other arms were found in my possession, after the last attack on us’
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