What’s happening? It’s like Churches are the new targets of armed robbers.
The last time, they robbed a pentecostal church HERE, now it’s a CAC church.
A group of 15 member robbery gang invaded the
Christ Apostolic Church in Alagbado, Lagos State during an engrossed prayer vigil
last Friday.
The robbers who operated for about 20 minutes made
away with 40 phones and money estimated at N2million.
away with 40 phones and money estimated at N2million.
“When the gun men got in, we were asked to have been
ordered to lie face down and they started ransacking them. They positioned themselves at the church’s major
entrances. They collected money, phones and recharge cards. They started
shouting, ‘where is your pastor?’ They took the church offering and wanted to
rape some of our women. In the 20 years of my being in the ministry, I have
never seen such effrontery before.”
ordered to lie face down and they started ransacking them. They positioned themselves at the church’s major
entrances. They collected money, phones and recharge cards. They started
shouting, ‘where is your pastor?’ They took the church offering and wanted to
rape some of our women. In the 20 years of my being in the ministry, I have
never seen such effrontery before.”
Unknown to them, the pastor had sneaked out
through one of the secret exit doors and dodged behind a window, where he
viewed everything going on. From his hide out, he was able to alert the police
who arrived at the scene just after the robbers left.
through one of the secret exit doors and dodged behind a window, where he
viewed everything going on. From his hide out, he was able to alert the police
who arrived at the scene just after the robbers left.
A new member of the Church, suspected to be the robbers’ informant, has since been arrested.
A member of the church, who craved anonymity,
said some of the members had observed the new man making phone calls while
the vigil was on.
said some of the members had observed the new man making phone calls while
the vigil was on.
He said, “The vigil actually started around 12
midnight. Some of us observed a man who came in around 1.30am. He was seated in
the women’s section. About four persons tried persuading him to change seat,
including the pastor, but he refused. So they left him.
midnight. Some of us observed a man who came in around 1.30am. He was seated in
the women’s section. About four persons tried persuading him to change seat,
including the pastor, but he refused. So they left him.
“I observed him going out several times to make
phone calls. At about 2am, I overheard him saying, ‘start coming, they are
praying’. Few minutes later, I heard a gunshot.”
phone calls. At about 2am, I overheard him saying, ‘start coming, they are
praying’. Few minutes later, I heard a gunshot.”
The head usher of the church was said to have
been shot at close range, when he tried closing the door against the robbers,
who he originally thought were arriving late for the programme.
been shot at close range, when he tried closing the door against the robbers,
who he originally thought were arriving late for the programme.
The bullet was said to have shattered the glass
at the entrance, and landed on the pulpit.
at the entrance, and landed on the pulpit.
Also one of the Church elders told gooo/news/robbers-invade-church-steal-phones-n2m/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>PUNCH thus:
“Apart from me, there were three other
people who saw him. A particular member of the church even told us that he was
the one who grabbed her phone while the robbers were stealing items. He wanted
to follow the robbers when they were escaping, but we held him till the police
arrived.”
people who saw him. A particular member of the church even told us that he was
the one who grabbed her phone while the robbers were stealing items. He wanted
to follow the robbers when they were escaping, but we held him till the police
arrived.”
He was handed over to the Ojokoro Police Division
for interrogation.
for interrogation.
Confirming the incidence, the Lagos State Police Public
Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the matter was being investigated at
SARS.
Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the matter was being investigated at
SARS.
Braide said, “The incident took place around 2am
and some people were arrested around 4am. The matter is currently under
investigation and the suspects, including the son of the traditional ruler, are
in police custody.
and some people were arrested around 4am. The matter is currently under
investigation and the suspects, including the son of the traditional ruler, are
in police custody.