Pastor, church members robbed during service in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects, Brown John (26) and Ayodele Aziz (30), who stormed a Deeper Life Bible Church in Benin, robbed the pastor and other worshipers during church service.

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, said, “The pastor, Imubhin Juliet, reported that three armed men walked into the church with guns and robbed them of their valuables.

“The armed robbers abducted the pastor and took her away in her Toyota Highlander with registration: AGL739HR, to somewhere where they forced her to disclose her ATM PIN which they used to syphon money from her bank account.”

The CP said that two days after the robbery, operatives, while acting on a tip off, intercepted the vehicle and the driver on Auchi Road.

In an interview with the suspects, Brown John said, “My friend only asked me to join him to escort a vehicle that would be delivered to its owner. We were on the road when the police arrested us. I only got to know that it was a stolen vehicle after we were arrested.

“Three of us were arrested but I am surprised that the driver is not here.” On his part, Ayodele said, “On the said date of the robbery, I went to attend an OPC meeting. After the meeting I met my friend at a drinking joint and we were drinking when he received a call that ‘they’ were taking a vehicle to its owner. He then asked if I wanted to escort the vehicle. I agreed because he said they would pay me money.”