Police foil robbery attack on church in Ibadan

OYO State Police Command, through its Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), on November 6, foiled an attempted robbery on the  Methodist Cathedral Church, Agodi, Ibadan, during its adult harvest service.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

According to Ajisebutu, “on Sunday, November 6, at about 1400 hours, through credible intelligence, the SARS of the command got wind of the sinister plan to rob the church and arrested the suspects. The foiled robbery was masterminded by a worker in the church, who invited other members of the gang to attack the church during which a large sum of money was to be stolen.

“The suspects arrested were Abiodun ‘m’ aged 43 years and Olukunle ‘m’ aged 25 years (surnames withheld). The suspects confessed to the crime.

“All the suspects will be arraigned in court after completion of investigations,” Ajisebutu noted.

Meanwhile, insider sources in the church informed Metro that Abiodun was a suspended senior steward of the church, while Olukunle used to play drum set for the church.

The source hinted that “the steward was suspended three months ago because he was involved in financial mismanagement of the church’s  finance,” adding that two investigative panel reports had found Abiodun guilty; the third, a 2015 audit report of the church.

It was also revealed that the duo were said to have been on “operation revenge” and were due to strike at 4.00 p.m. on that Sunday before the security operatives got wind of  their dastardly act.

It was also gathered that the suspects had visited the church twice before Sunday, precisely on Wednesday and Friday for logistic reasons prelude to their planned attack.

The command’ s image maker, however, wishes to “appreciate the enormous support of members of the public who gave useful information which led to the arrest of the suspects.”