Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have apprehended a 35-year-old ex-convict, John Agbontean, for attempting to rob worshippers during an end-of-year harvest thanksgiving service.
The incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, at the Restoration Gospel Ministry Church, located at No. 11 Oviasuyi Street, off Ogiemwenke, Benin City.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Joel Yamu, the police responded swiftly to a distress call from the worshippers, deploying officers from the Saint Saviour Divisional Headquarters to the scene.
“The suspect was caught red-handed during the robbery attempt, armed with a cut-to-size gun,” Yamu stated.
During interrogation, Agbontean admitted to being an ex-convict recently released from Oko Prison, Benin City, on 19th December 2024.
He confessed to conspiring with an accomplice identified only as Ola, who is currently at large, to rob the church of its harvest thanksgiving proceeds.
“While Agbontean was arrested during the operation, his accomplice narrowly escaped,” Yamu added.
The police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing accomplice and urged members of the public with relevant information to come forward. Meanwhile, the suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
