Robbers Kill 2, Snatch Offering And Tithe Boxes

A gang of robbers invaded Vine Branch Church on Queen Elizabeth Road, Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday, killing two policemen.

Some church members also sustained injuries as they attempted to flee the scene.

It was gathered that the robbers attacked the church to snatch offering and tithe boxes.

The robbers pretended to be worshipers as they joined the congregation during the service. They struck soon after the offerings were collected.

A van with some bank officers and two policemen drove into the church immediately the offerings were collected to take them to safety.

When the bank officer entered the church, the robbers attacked him, but they later realized that he had not taken possession of the money.

Realizing that they had made a failed attempt, the robbers shot into the air and attacked the policemen waiting in the van outside.

They killed the policemen and took away their rifles. The driver was, however, spared because one of the robbers observed that he was not a policeman. An eyewitness, who did not give her name, said the entire operation showed a lot of planning by the robbers.

She said, “No one would have expected that the robbers were among the congregation. The robbers must have visited the church more than once during the planning stage to get information on how the church keeps its offerings.

“Many church members did not know until today that the offerings are immediately taken away after they are collected. How these robbers got to know how the church treats the offerings is a mystery. I am sure this was not the first time they worshiped with us.”

The Police Public Relations Officer Oyo State Police Command, Olabisi Ilobanafor, confirmed the incident, adding that one of the robbers escaped with a gunshot wound.