A burgler, Yemi Lawa, has said he attended a church vigil in the Alakia area of Ibadan, Oyo State, but left soon after the programme began to burgle a house.
Lawa was one of the 23 suspects that were paraded by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, at the state command headquarters in the Eleyele area of Ibadan on Thursday.
Odude said the suspect, after entering the house through the bathroom, stole laptops, mobile phones, documents and Automated Teller Machine cards.
He said, “About 10pm on June 6, 2018, Lawa, 25, broke into the residence of Ajayi Gbadebo in the Alakeia area of Ibadan through the bathroom and stole laptops, mobile telephones, ATM cards and vital documents. Following a report lodged at the Egbeda Police Division, detectives swung into action and commenced discreet investigation. The diligent investigation led to the arrest of Lawa and recovery of all the stolen items.”
The suspect said he was looking for food to eat when he broke into the house but ended up stealing the items recovered from him.
Lawa said “I went in through the bathroom door and saw the laptops on the chair and took them. I knew that the house was always shut, so I went there at night. The church I attended is beside the house. I attended a vigil in the church, but left to rob the house.
“I was hungry, so my intention was to grab some food in the house and eat. I studied public administration and graduated from a polytechnic in 2014. I have since then been looking for a job without success.”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, noted that not all those who attended church vigils did so for religious reasons.
He said, “Some robbers join the congregation to carry out unholy activities.”