The men were identified as Akinniyi Moses aka (conjour), 43; Ogunfowoke Kayode, 23yrs; Michael Idogun, aka (headboy), 35yrs and Izunna Onah, 29.
Their arrests, according to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, was sequel to series of complaints from different churches they had attacked at different times, the latest of which was Methodist Church, Oru-Ijebu and Love of Epistles Church, Ago-Iwoye.
Oyeyemi, in a press release stated that the syndicate did not limit their operations to churches, saying they also attacked residents, citing a building at Ajebo in Oru-Ijebu as one of the places they attacked recently.
According to the PPRO:
“Worried by the sacrilegious acts, the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, on receiving the distasteful report, mandated the DPO Awa-ijebu Division, SP Olu Monday, to go after the hoodlums and bring them to justice within the shortest possible time.
And in compliance with the CP’s directive, Olu Monday detailed his detectives to embark on intelligence-based investigation in order to unravel those behind the sacrilegious act. Their efforts paid off when, on a tip-off, the four suspects were apprehended on December 30, 2018”.
The police image maker stated that in the course of interrogating the suspects, all owned up to committing the sacrilegious acts on churches in the area, and specifically mentioned Methodist Church, Oru-Ijebu and Love of Epistles Church Ago-Iwoye as their latest victims.
Some of the items recovered from them, according to Oyeyemi, were a double-barrel locally fabricated pistol; 17.62mm live ammunition; five DBSG live cartridges; Six handsets and three Ox fans.
Others were one big speaker; two identity cards of Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSO); a Plasma TV; two gas cylinders; a bullet proof vest; five stabilizers; a Church bell; a pistol purse and a jack knife.
Meanwhile, Oyeyemi hinted that all the stolen items have been identified by their respective owners, adding that CP Ahmed Iliyasu had ordered that the suspects be transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squard (FSARS), Abeokuta, for discreet investigation.
He quoted the CP to have warned that the Command would not rest on its oars in its efforts to make Ogun State crime free.
