Pastor, 5 Armed Robbers Arrested in Ekiti

The pastor, who oversees The Way of Salvation Ministry located at 1, Ajilosun Street, Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, is said to be the armourer of a five man-gang of robbers.

He was yesterday paraded along five other armed robbers at the Ekiti State Police Command Headquarters for allegedly keeping the arms for the bandits.
The other armed robbery suspects: Okoromadu Kingsley, 36; Eze Steven Okwudili , 30; Sunkanmi Alomaja, 28; Ojo Gboyega, 25 and Fatunroti Toyin, 25.
Those five were specialists in snatching motorbikes and cars, were arrested after allegedly carrying out an operation at the Ori Apata area of the capital city.
The hoodlums had, during the operation, made away with household items, including a laptop, cell phones and N210, 000 cash after tying up their victims, locking them up in the toilet and ransacking the entire house.
The pastor, however, told journalists that he was just living in the same compound with the suspects, adding that he never knew they were armed robbers.
Though the clergyman denied the allegation, one of the gang members insisted that the perceived man of God is one of them.
Suleiman, from Kwara State, was the spiritual protector for the gang members.
However, one of the suspects, Okwudili, who was described as a serial robber, said that Suleiman was aware of their robbery operations and had allegedly benefited many times from the stolen items they brought for him after operations as a mark of appreciation.
Okwudili added that the gang initially specialised in the snatching of motorbikes before they graduated to car snatching and raiding of houses.
According to a police source, the key to the cupboard being used as armoury was found in the possession of Suleiman.
Police also claimed that dangerous weapons such as cut to size USSR made gun, one locally made double barrel, nine live cartridges, one pick axe, one chisel, one hammer, a laptop and six handsets were recovered in the cupboard.
Alleged armed robbery
Two men, 20-year-old Olaiya Adeniyi and 19-year-old Akingbade Asimiyu, were also paraded for alleged armed robbery at the Corpers’ Lodge, Ipole-Iloro Ekiti at about 3.00am on November 3, where they made away with the corps members’ valuables, including cash and cell phones in addition to inflicting varying degree of injuries on them.
The police spokesman, who said the police were on the trail of the third suspect, said justice would take its course as he assured that “Ekiti is a safe place to live and work.”


National Mirror