A pastor, Nsikak Etim and father of one who hails from Enen Atai, Itu Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State, has reportedly been arrested for allegedly robbing a woman whose husband had just been buried.

According to reports, Etim is said to be the founder and General Overseer of City of Reality Christian Centre, located at Ediene Ikot Obio Imo in Uyo, the state capital, and had attended the burial held at Ituk Mbag in Uruan Local Government Area of the state uninvited, but as man of God, he was reportedly welcomed by the family of the late man, not knowing he had come with another mission; to steal and to rob.

While at the funeral, reports say Etim perhaps, had allegedly carefully monitored the widow as she received sympathizers who gave her one gift or the other and at the end of the day, he leaped in and stole the bag that contained the money and other items.

He reportedly stole cash amounting to over N600, 000, two cell phones, a cheque book, an ATM card belonging to the deceased, and a briefcase containing the late deceased documents, which was handed over to the woman’s son for safe keep.

It was learnt that after stealing the bag, the pastor immediately used the stolen cash to acquire a land in Uyo, reportedly emptied the account of the late man using the ATM card and handed over the deceased’s phones to his wife while keeping the other belonging to the widow, for himself.

The pastor was however tracked down by the Department of State Services (DSS) through the stolen phones and was arrested while conducting a church service at his church.

During interrogation, Etim reportedly admitted to his crime, blaming the devil for his actions.

“Please don’t send me to jail. The devil is trying to rubbish my ministry. Please do not involve my wife in this, she is innocent. I did not tell her where I got the phone from. I don’t want our child to grow up without a father.

Etim was said to have pleaded with the police to have mercy on him and reportedly promised to return the plot of land he bought with the stolen money to the widow as well as refund all the money he siphoned from his victim’s bank account.