Officials of the Edo State police command have gunned down two robbers who stole church offerings at Bishops Court of St James’ Cathedral in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local government area of the state.
Daily Independent gathered that the third suspect who is alleged to be the informant to the robbers has been arrested and he is currently in police custody for further interrogation.
The robbers were reportedly shot dead by the police while trying to escape from interrogation.
It was also gathered that the main suspect, who is a close confidant of the Bishop Court and has been an adopted son by the Bishop, Rt Rev Jolly Oyekpen and his family was said to have informed his other accomplices about the operation.
One of the accomplices who hail from Delta State was said to be a farmer in neighbouring Owan while the other is from Jattu area of Etsako West local government area of the state.
The suspects reportedly stole the sum of N954, 000 in the Bishop’s Court, a sum that was generated from church services but yet to be deposited in the bank.
According to the bishop, the robbers stormed the church premises in the early hours of last Thursday and carted away the said money alongside other valuables including mobile phones.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, a senior officer at the Igarra police station said investigations led their findings to the apprehended suspect, who agreed to committing the crime by giving information about the money to his dead friends.
The deceased suspects were reportedly gunned down near Ikphesi where the police was said to have through the main suspect called on the two to “come for another deal of N2 million”.
It was further gathered that on arrival, the suspects were said to have sensed danger and wanted to escape when the police opened fire on them. One was said to have died on the spot while the other died later.
The police revealed that the main suspect was given the sum of N300, 000 from the loot and had already spent the sum of N20, 000 from his share before he was arrested.
The senior officer who hinted that the suspect had fixed year ending for his wedding also disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin City for further investigation.
When the command’s spokesperson, Joseph Edoighiawere was contacted, he said he was not in the office at the moment, assuring that when he returns to the office, he will get necessary details and get back to the correspondent.
Recall that the Edo State police command recently arrested a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with over 500 permanent voter cards (PVCs) at his residence in Benin City.
Daily Independent gathered that the third suspect who is alleged to be the informant to the robbers has been arrested and he is currently in police custody for further interrogation.
The robbers were reportedly shot dead by the police while trying to escape from interrogation.
It was also gathered that the main suspect, who is a close confidant of the Bishop Court and has been an adopted son by the Bishop, Rt Rev Jolly Oyekpen and his family was said to have informed his other accomplices about the operation.
One of the accomplices who hail from Delta State was said to be a farmer in neighbouring Owan while the other is from Jattu area of Etsako West local government area of the state.
The suspects reportedly stole the sum of N954, 000 in the Bishop’s Court, a sum that was generated from church services but yet to be deposited in the bank.
According to the bishop, the robbers stormed the church premises in the early hours of last Thursday and carted away the said money alongside other valuables including mobile phones.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, a senior officer at the Igarra police station said investigations led their findings to the apprehended suspect, who agreed to committing the crime by giving information about the money to his dead friends.
The deceased suspects were reportedly gunned down near Ikphesi where the police was said to have through the main suspect called on the two to “come for another deal of N2 million”.
It was further gathered that on arrival, the suspects were said to have sensed danger and wanted to escape when the police opened fire on them. One was said to have died on the spot while the other died later.
The police revealed that the main suspect was given the sum of N300, 000 from the loot and had already spent the sum of N20, 000 from his share before he was arrested.
The senior officer who hinted that the suspect had fixed year ending for his wedding also disclosed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin City for further investigation.
When the command’s spokesperson, Joseph Edoighiawere was contacted, he said he was not in the office at the moment, assuring that when he returns to the office, he will get necessary details and get back to the correspondent.
Recall that the Edo State police command recently arrested a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with over 500 permanent voter cards (PVCs) at his residence in Benin City.
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