ONE Goodluck Mark, said to be an
evangelist with the Church of Christ, Seventh Day, Osaa-Ukwu, Abia
State, is currently cooling his heels in the police custody over his
alleged involvement in a child trafficking case.
evangelist with the Church of Christ, Seventh Day, Osaa-Ukwu, Abia
State, is currently cooling his heels in the police custody over his
alleged involvement in a child trafficking case.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told Southern City News
that Mark, a dismissed policeman, was assigned by the community to hand
over some arrested human traffickers and the N600,000 recovered from
them to the police.
that Mark, a dismissed policeman, was assigned by the community to hand
over some arrested human traffickers and the N600,000 recovered from
them to the police.
Mark was, however, said to have
allegedly diverted the money and allowed the suspects to escape rather
than hand them over to the police.
The source narrated, “Last month, a
certain woman from my community here connived with one man who owns a
maternity home here to sell her own baby for N600,000. But unfortunately
they were caught by the youths/vigilante of the community.
certain woman from my community here connived with one man who owns a
maternity home here to sell her own baby for N600,000. But unfortunately
they were caught by the youths/vigilante of the community.
“The vigilante decided that they should
be handed over to the police as law demands. Mark, who we know as a
police officer, was called upon to take the suspects to the police
station and register the case.
be handed over to the police as law demands. Mark, who we know as a
police officer, was called upon to take the suspects to the police
station and register the case.
“The money realised from the sale of the
baby was dug up from the ground where they buried it and handed over to
the officer as evidence.
baby was dug up from the ground where they buried it and handed over to
the officer as evidence.
“But instead of handing the suspects
over to the police, Mark released the two men involved to run away and
warned them never to return to the community.
over to the police, Mark released the two men involved to run away and
warned them never to return to the community.
“He also beat and threatened the child’s
mother whom he also released. Some days later when the news of what
happened got to the community, the police operatives were invited and
they arrested him and took him to D7 in Umuahia.”
mother whom he also released. Some days later when the news of what
happened got to the community, the police operatives were invited and
they arrested him and took him to D7 in Umuahia.”
The source said the community was aware
that the suspect was once dismissed from the police force, but the story
of his alleged reinstatement to the force made the community to allow
him handle the case.
that the suspect was once dismissed from the police force, but the story
of his alleged reinstatement to the force made the community to allow
him handle the case.
“We learnt sometime ago that he was
actually sacked from the police force, but we also heard that he was
reinstated as a police officer. We were shocked to hear how he collected
money and set the criminals free,” he added.
actually sacked from the police force, but we also heard that he was
reinstated as a police officer. We were shocked to hear how he collected
money and set the criminals free,” he added.
The leader of the Church of Christ,
Seventh Day, Osaa-Ukwu, where the embattled evangelist worships, Apostle
Jasper Ohuoba, confirmed his arrest.
Seventh Day, Osaa-Ukwu, where the embattled evangelist worships, Apostle
Jasper Ohuoba, confirmed his arrest.
Ohuoba, however, said the story was
still not clear to him as he did not know what actually transpired which
led to Mark’s arrest.
still not clear to him as he did not know what actually transpired which
led to Mark’s arrest.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident.
He confirmed that the embattled evangelist was a dismissed police sergeant.
Ogbonna disclosed that the case was transferred to Zone 9, Umuahia for further investigation.
