Samuel Oyadongha
30 December 2011, Sweetcrude, Yenagoa – The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta codenamed Operation Restore Hope has dismissed as “misplaced” and “a misrepresentation of facts “the reported arrest of a man, Wisdom King over the alleged attempt to bomb a church in Bayelsa describing the incident as an isolated one not related in any way to rising cases of bomb attacks by the Boko Haram sect in some parts of the Northern states.
The JTF in a statement issued by the Media Coordinator of the Task Force, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha stated that though preliminary investigation has shown that the arrested man is confirmed deranged and allegedly involved in the case of arson against the Church, the reported case of bomb incident at the church premises was wrong and a show of irresponsible journalism.
An indigene of Edo State identified as Mr. Wisdom King was on Tuesday reportedly arrested in Yenagoa over alleged plan to blow up a church along Kpansia Road.
His arrest was said to have created anxiety in the state leading to speculations that the suspect was a member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
It was gathered that the arrested man was a member of the church but fell apart with the pastor.
It was gathered that the suspected arsonist was once convicted in Edo State for armed robbery but was released from prison after serving his sentence.
Immediately he was released from prison, he was said to have met the pastor whose church then allegedly trying to nurture him in the path of repentance.
The pastor was said to have invited the suspect to Yenagoa after relocating his church to the capital city. But problem was said to have started following the suspect’s insatiable demands for money.
But the JTF in the brief statement yesterday dismissed the report of the arrest of the Wisdom King over plot to bomb church and said “ The Task Force wishes to clarify that what happened in reality was a case of a mentally challenged individual attempting to commit arson over a disputed property. The fellow involved has been apprehended and investigation into the incident is on going.”
“The JTF therefore calls on the public to disregard the reported incident and go about their businesses without any fear whatsoever. The JTF is working round the clock to ensure the safety of life and property in it’s area of responsibility.”
