Robbers attack church, attempts to steal church offering

A gang of robbers invaded Vine Branch Church on Queen Elizabeth Road, Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday, killing two policemen after their failed attempts to steal the church's tithes and offering.

Some church members also sustained injuries as they attempted to flee the scene.

The robbers were said to have pretended to be worshippers as they joined the congregation during the service.

It was learnt that they struck soon after the offerings were collected.

It was gathered that a van with some bank officers and two policemen drove into the church immediately the offerings were collected to take them to safety.

When the bank officer entered the church, the robbers were said to have attacked him, but they later realised that he had not taken possession of the money.

Realising that they had made a failed attempt, the robbers shot into the air and attacked the policemen waiting in the van outside.

They killed the policemen and took away their rifles. The driver was, however, spared because one of the robbers was said to have observed that he was not a policeman.

It was also learnt that the robbers attempted to disconnect the church's projector, but were not successful.

An eyewitness, who did not give her name, said the entire operation showed a lot of planning by the robbers.

She said, "No one would have expected that the robbers were among the congregation. The robbers must have visited the church more than once during the planning stage to get information on how the church keeps its offerings.

"Many church members did not know until today that the offerings are immediately taken away after they are collected. How these robbers got to know how the church treats the offerings is a mystery. I am sure this was not the first time they worshipped with us."

The Police Public Relations Officer Oyo State Police Command, Olabisi Ilobanafor, confirmed the incident, adding that one of the robbers escaped with a gunshot wound.