Suspected robbers desecrate house of worship in Edo

TWO suspected armed robbers were reportedly shot dead by the police while trying to escape from interrogation after an alleged robbery incident at the Bishop’s Court, St James’ Cathedral, Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Council of Edo State.

   The third suspect, said to be the informant that led to the robbery, is in police custody for further interrogation.

   The main suspect (name withheld) is a close confidant of the Bishop and has been an adopted son by the Bishop, Rt Rev Jolly Oyekpen.

   He was said to have informed his other two accomplices; one from Delta State and the other from Jattu in Etsako West local government council that about N954,000 was in the Bishop’s Court. 

   The Guardian gathered that the money was from church services yet to be deposited in the bank. 

   They were said to have stormed the premises in the early hours of last Thursday and carted away the money and some other valuables.     

   It was gathered that the two dead suspects met their waterloo at Ikphesi, where the police called them to come for another deal of N2 million.

    When they sensed danger on arrival, they wanted to escape and opened fire on the police, which prompted the police to fire back at them. One was said to have died on the spot while the other died later.

   It was gathered that the principal suspect’s share of the loot was N300,000 and was said to have spent N20,000 out of it before he was arrested. 

  A senior police officer at the Igarra police station said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Benin City.

   The State Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Edoighiawerei said:  “I am not in the office right now but once I get back to the office, I will get necessary details and get back to you”