Armed Robber Invades Church Service In Benue, Steals Offering, Other Valuables

A suspected armed robber, Terkaa Tsamber, was on Sunday apprehended at the Dunamis Church, in Makurdi, the Benue state capital for allegedly stealing church offering and other valuables worth thousands of naira.

The robber reportedly went into the church premises during the Sunday service and made his way into the pastor’s office shortly after the second service ended around 10 am.

A little girl sighted him with a gun and screamed for help.

Tsamber was said to have jumped the fence. The worshipers, who came for the Third Service, sighted him and chased him.

He was traced to a close by building, which belongs to a top politician.

The robber carried an axe after discovering that there was no bullet in the gun.

Some members of the church told The Nation that an armed robbery gang a few days ago burgled the church, stole laptops, handset belonging to the pastor and the church offering.

“This morning, we were inside the church auditorium for the Third Service when we heard a little girl screaming and we all went towards the direction only for us to see someone jumping across with some items. We also went after him and traced him to a nearby building, not too far from the church.

“Immediately he (the thief) saw us in large numbers, he brought out a gun but there was no bullet and he dropped it and carried an axe. However, we overpowered him. That was how we caught him, and brought him to the church before we call the police” a member of the church said.

The church’s resident pastor, Joseph Idakwoji, said he discovered that armed robbers broke into his office after the last Friday Worship and Wonder’s Night and made away with so many items including handsets, offertory, cartons of five alive and stabilizer.

Idakwoji said: “When I came to the church office yesterday (Saturday) after our last Worship and Wonder’s Night, I discovered that thieves invaded the church and made away with things from my office. So, I prayed and told God that I am not going to lock the office back and that God should manifest his power and glory by allowing whoever that broke into my office to come back and steal again in the day time so that he would be caught.

“Behold, a few minutes into the third service, I was on the altar conducting the service when I heard some members of the church shouting and screaming ‘thief! Thief!!. He was caught and brought to the church. The area boys wanted to apply jungle justice on him but I prevented them and called the police, who came and picked him.”

Tsamber appealed to the pastor not to kill him, saying that he regretted his action.

“Truly, I don’t know what came over me. Don’t allow the people to kill me. I am ready to repent and never to steal again. This is my first time of coming to steal here. I don’t know those who came to steal from the church the last time,” he said.