Man arrested for filming pastor’s house, church with drone without permission

Man arrested for filming pastor’s house, church with drone without permission

Police in Enugu State at the weekend arrested a suspected spying drone pilot for allegedly filming a cleric’s home in Alor Unor, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state

The suspect, Michael Ali, from Aguibeje in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, claimed he was filming the cleric’s home for a documentary, adding that he was working on the Nsukka landscape.

He said he decided to stay in the bush to control his drone, because he was learning how to fly it, explaining that it was a mistake to have focused his equipment on the cleric’s home and church building.

Pastor Chikammadu Eze, who is the General Overseer of Highway to Grace Assembly, however, said he was shocked to see a drone flying around his compound and above his church building.

He said he monitored the drone only to discover that the suspect, Ali, hid in a bush close to his house from where he controlled it.

It was at this point that he alerted his household who joined him to ensure that the suspect did not escape until police arrived the scene and arrested him.

“As I walked out of my bedroom, I was surprised to hear the sound of a drone camera hovering around my house and church building. I looked around and could not find the pilot,” Eze said.

“After some minutes, the operator started recalling the drone and I followed the direction only to see the operator (Ali) hiding in a nearby bush close to my church compound. I caught the operator (Ali) and immediately called police from Nsukka Area Command.”

He commended the police for their quick response as well as for arresting the suspect and taking him to their station

Eze vowed to sue Ali drag to court because he alleged the suspect had evil intentions against his family and the church.

“If Ali has no evil intention as he is claiming now that he was doing video documentary, why didn’t he inform me before taking pictures of my church, family as well as my personal picture with his drone,” he queried.