An orchestrated armed robbery plot yesterday led to the invasion of gang of a popular elite church , the Vine Branch Church on Queen Elizabeth Road, Ibadan by a 7-man gang of robbers.
At the end of the 15-minute commando-like operation, 2 policemen were killed and many church members were injured, as they attempted to flee the scene.
Unconfirmed reports also said the robbers also carted the offerings and tithes for the day.
According to eyewitness, the robbers were said to have pretended to be worshippers as they joined the congregation during the service, lurking around in the church until the arrival of the bullion van which was to collect the takings of church.
Naijalog learnt that after van with some bank officers and two policemen drove into the church, the robbers waited until for few minutes and believing that the bank officials were now in custody of the money swarmed in on them and tried to collect the money from them, but they later realised that the bank officials had not taken possession of the money.
Realising 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 was said to have observed that he was not a policeman.
It was also learnt that the robbers attempted to disconnect the church’s projector, but were not successful.
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 worshipped with us.”
The resident Pastor of the Church, Sola Kolade who confirmed the incident only noted the injuries sustained by members of church sustained injuries.
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.