Police in Lagos have arrested an 18-year-old male, Elikor Ehud, for allegedly stealing from a church’s offering and tithe boxes.
Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Sunday said Mr Ehud was arrested on October 15 following complaints of theft on October 1 by Pastor Moses Nwoke of Divine Chosen Vine Ministry, Furniture Avenue, Ejigbo.
According to the statement, Nwoke reported at Ejigbo Police Station on September 30 that unknown persons broke the wooden boxes placed on the altar for tithes and offering and stole the money.
The suspect, according to Mr Elkana, confessed to stealing the sum of N670,000 cash from the boxes.
“He mentioned one Lucky as his accomplice. Efforts are emplaced to apprehend the said accomplice,” the statement said.
Elkana added that Operation Crush officers on October 18 arrested suspected members of Eiye and Aiye Confraternities at Alapere.
The cult groups were said to have engaged each other in a battle of supremacy with dangerous objects.
The statement said two key leaders of the gangs – Olawale Toheeb, 22, and Joseph Obinna, 25 – were arrested.
Following extensive investigation, four additional suspects were arrested.
Elkana named the suspects as Obasi Ekene, 21; Promise Onoja, 18; Ogoeke Weri Omokosi, 24, and Saviour Edet, 23.
The statement said a large quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp, short axes and cutlasses were recovered from the suspects’ hideout.
Also, the spokesman said police officers on August 28 arrested the leader of a gang that was allegedly robbing passersby at Kekere bus stop, Adoh Ajah and UTC.
Elkana said Ayobami Adegbite, 23, was arrested with a short gun, N16, 000 and a digital camera believed to have been snatched from a victim.
He added that operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad Ikeja have taken over the investigation and are on the trail of the fleeing members of the gang.
The statement said all the suspects would be prosecuted.
