A 45-year-old man who claims to be a pastor-in-charge of a church, Elohim Cherubim and Seraphim Church, in the Hunbe, Ajegunle area of Ogun State, Joseph Olude, has been arrested by the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State, for allegedly being part of an armed robbery gang that has been terrorising residents and travellers around Idiroko-Oke Odan area, a border community between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
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Arrested alongside Olude is a member of his church who is also part of the gang, Rasak Raheem, who were nabbed following a tip-off, just as the police has embarked on a manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang.
It was gathered that the police had received information that Olude and his gang were operating in the Idiroko-Oke Odan area, dispossessing motorists of their valuables, from a businessman who was moving money from Nigeria to the Benin Republic, who put a distress call across to the operatives.
Olude who is a father of five, confessed that he is the founder of the church and was recruited into the gang by Raheem when he (Raheem), went to the church for special prayers with one of his friends, Bidemi, and later began hiding their guns in his church premises.
“I have five children. I was arrested when the police found five guns on my premises. It was my church member, Bidemi, who invited Raheem.
Raheem was brought into my church in February 2016, after he was infected with a Sexually Transmitted Disease. He also owed a house rent. So, he came to live in the church. I did not suspect that he was bringing in stolen goods into the church’s premises.
I knew the time when someone came to collect a gun from him. Bidemi usually dressed like a policeman. I did not know that he was a robber. Now, Bidemi has fled.”
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But Raheem, an indigene of Abeokuta, said Olude knew he and his friends were robbers and was keeping watch over the guns for them.
“The pastor and I are friends. I went to his church and a man called Bode from Cotonou brought the guns. I told the pastor that the guns were for safe keeping in the church and he said there was no problem.
About two weeks ago, Bidemi called me that he wanted to use the guns around the border area. I said he should bring N10,000 when coming and he agreed.
The robbers collected the guns and when they were done with the use, they paid another N10,000. I knew they used the guns to rob. It was a five-man gang.”
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