A man said to be an Anglican Priest, serving at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA is cooling off his heels in the police net for reportedly breaking into the bank in broad daylight with a gallon of fuel and setting the two installed ATMs on fire.
He set the two Automated Teller Machines installed by Imo Microfinance Bank at Aba Branch in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State on fire.
The man, whose action caused pandemonium in the area, equally set his motorcycle on fire before he was overpowered by security men and bank customers.
An eyewitness, Kingsley Chukwu, yesterday told journalists that sequel to the incident which happened at the weekend, Rev. Ibezim was beaten to pulp by an enraged crowd.
“On noticing that people would go after him, he smartly ran out of the bank, set his own motorcycle on fire in a bid to scare people away and took to his heels.
“A mob went after him and almost crushed him. It took the intervention of policemen from the Ehime Mbano Divisional Headquarters to save him from being lynched.
“The sum of N100,000 was recovered from him. A new hammer was equally recovered from him. He came on a brand new motorcycle which he later set ablaze also,” Chukwu narrated.
Chukwu, who lamented the wanton destruction, said the damage would affect the locals as it was the only bank within the area.
Confirming the arson, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Chris Ezike, disclosed that medical checks ran on the priest by his command revealed that the suspect was a psychiatric patient.
