Kalu Ojo, a middle-aged man, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle parked outside the Assemblies of God Church in Umuahia, Abia State. The suspect was handed over to officers at the Central Police Station (CPS) in Umuahia for further investigation.
Incident Follows Previous Theft from Same Church
This incident comes a month after a Toyota Sienna belonging to the wife of a traditional ruler, HRH Eze Izuwa, was stolen from the church premises during a worship service. The police are investigating whether Ojo is linked to a wider vehicle theft syndicate operating in Umuahia.
Suspect Pretended to Be Mentally Unstable
The suspect allegedly pretended to be mentally unstable when he was caught on Sunday, July 5, 2026, on Item Street, Umuahia. Eyewitnesses said the suspect had been under surveillance by the church’s Royal Rangers security team after he was seen attempting to force open a parked vehicle.
According to Vanguard, witnesses said the suspect allegedly used a spanner to unlock the car after arriving in a commercial tricycle. The owner, who is not a member of the church, said he decided to park closer to the church because he had a feeling something might happen. He returned to discover the car unlocked and a spanner inside the vehicle.
Royal Rangers Alert Owner
The Royal Rangers stationed near the Ohafia Street junction alerted the owner of the car. The owner said the suspect told him he was only trying to check something before attempting to flee. The suspect was eventually apprehended with the assistance of bystanders.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the CPS, Osage, said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Osage disclosed that the police are investigating if the suspect is linked to a wider vehicle theft syndicate operating in Umuahia.
Similar Thefts in Other States
In a related incident, a young man was arrested for stealing musical instruments from three churches in Ogun State. The Ogun State Community Corps nabbed the man at the hotel he patronises after carrying out his act. The robbery suspect, identified simply as Biola Adebesin, was caught with church equipment such as a decoder, piano, engine mixer and more.
Additionally, police operatives in Bauchi State arrested a 22-year-old suspect and successfully recovered a stolen cow worth 1.5 million Naira. The suspect confessed to the theft in Gadau District and identified an accomplice who is currently evading capture by the State Criminal Investigation Department.
