Ogun State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a robbery syndicate who allegedly robbed members of a church in the state.
The place of worship for Christians, Christ Apostolic Church, is situated at Gudugbe Alagbon area of Wasimi, in Ewekoro Local Government Area, where incident occurred on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
Not only that, the robbery suspects also kidnapped a member of the church (names withheld) while she was leaving the church.
The suspects included Abubakar Ibrahim, 38; Sulaiman Yusuf, 32; Ismail Yusuf, 20; Umar Aliu, 26; and Yinusa Musa.
According to a statement issued by state police image-maker, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the arrest followed a distress call made by a clergyman in the church.
The cleric had told the police that while a vigil was going on in the church at about 1:30 am, six men who were armed invaded and attacked the church members.
He spoke further that the hoodlums beat some members of the church, before dispossessing them of their valuables.
It was after that, that they decided to kidnap the female member while she was leaving the church.
“Upon the distress call, policemen attached to Ewekoro division swiftly moved to the scene and combed the forest, into which the hoodlums escaped.
“Their efforts paid off when five of the gang members were apprehended in the bush.
“The victims of the attack have identified all the arrested suspects, while the sixth one is being hunted for,” Oyeyemi stated.
Weapons recovered from the suspects included a cutlass, two cudgels and assorted charms.
The PPRO said that the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
“He also directed an extensive routine patrol across the state, so as to assure members of the public that police in the state are on ground to ensure their safety,” the PPRO said.
