The Police at the Lagos State Police Command Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, said a robbery suspect in their custody has allegedly linked the presiding Pastor and head of the Ushering team to series of armed robbery attacks at their church (name withheld).
It was gathered that the attack on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 was the third, in which armed bandits would invade the Area Headquarter of a popular Pentecostal church, located at Tayo Makinde Street, Iyaije/Ojokoro area of Lagos State.
Police source also added that the robbers usually strike shortly after the “Area” headquarters had held a special program, that would gather all the branches under it, and there would expectably be “big” offering, “the same evening the hoodlums must attack and cart away all the monies and other valuables.”
Checks by our Correspondent revealed that on three occasions that the armed robbers struck, they carted away both cash and musical equipment running into millions of naira belonging to the Church.
A Church member who earlier volunteered information to the Police at Ijaiye Police divisional Headquarters, before the case was moved to SARS, on the order of the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Fatai Owoseni, squealed that the robbery attacks were the handiwork of the Pastor and the head of the ushering group in the Church.
He further disclosed that the presiding Pastor or any other senior officials of the Church never reported any of the robberies to the Police, until he has to personally take it upon himself to contact the Police at Ijaiye over the matter.
The source stated that “on three occasions, the robbers had visited, they allegedly carted away cash and other valuables in the region of N30 million. “The last musical instrument cost us N2.1million, and after we bought it, we organized a launching for it and we realized close to N5Million, in cash and pledges.”
Police source said, they may swoop on the Pastor and the fingered Usher, any moment from now. “ We may have to pick them up to come and answer to the allegations. They must come and clear the air on the allegation.”
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos State Command, in a telephone interview with our Correspondent, confirmed the development and added that investigation into the serial robberies was on. “I have ordered an investigation into that complaint and the case has been moved to SARS, I want to believe that the case is receiving that professional touch, and when we are through, we shall brief the press.”
Church robberies has become rampant of late, with insiders allegation taken the center stage. Checks revealed that, it is poor remuneration to Churches workers that pushes some of them (men of God) into stealing from God.
