BY MONICA OGBAUDU
THE recently alleged robbery menace in Oleh Community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state has stirred up more security alerts, as affected churches lose millions of naira.
According to information reaching The Pointer, the two robbery incidents were said to have occurred in areas which are densely populated with residential buildings, and with similarities in their modus operandi.
A reliable source who pleaded to remain anonymous noted that there were no signs of burglary but it was suspected that they might have used master keys to access the church building which has a capacity of over 400 persons, adding that, all the doors were open at the time the theft was discovered in the early hours According to him, the most surprising thing about the robbery incident was not about them gaining entrance into the church premises but how they succeeded in moving the heavy equipment without attracting neighbours, not even the security guard.
He disclosed that the musical equipment stolen which included speakers and mixers would cost millions of naira, adding that the consequences of the crime committed are grievous because it has to do with God’s properties.
“It is sacrilege; they can’t come into the House of God to cart away things just like that. It should be known that the equipment is sanctified for the gospel and all those involved will not go free”. Meanwhile, further reports of the second robbery incident that took place within the Local Government Secretariat where the church is located are yet to be ascertained.
However, it was estimated that one of the sound speakers carted away would cost over a million naira and three of the aforementioned equipment were alleged to have been stolen by the robbers.
An undisclosed source described the second incident as an organized robbery, stating that, the church’s General Overseer had a vigil with his crew till 4 am and only left the building at about 4.20 am after conducting his security search to ensure all the doors were locked before entering his residence which is just directly behind the church building.
He asserted that the robbery operation must have taken place between 4.20 am and 5.00 am, noting that, even as he also urged all the churches to be more security conscious to avoid being victims of the robbery invasion. However, as of the time of filing this report, the suspects have yet to be apprehended.
