Ex-convict arrested for armed robbery two days after release from jail in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested an ex-convict, John Agbontean, for armed robbery in Benin city. 

The spokesperson of the command, SP Moses Joel Yamu, who disclosed this in a statement, said the suspect was arrested with a cut to size gun while attempting to rob in a church of the proceeds from the end of year harvest thanksgiving. 

According to the PPRO, the suspect was released from Oko Prison, Benin-City on December 19, 2024. 

“On 22/12/2024 at about 1145hrs, following a distress call that armed robbers were operating at Restoration Gospel Ministry, situated at no. 11 Oviasuyi street off Ogiemwenke in Benin-City, operatives of Saint Saviour Divisional Headquarters immediately mobilised to the scene where one John Agbontean 35yrs was arrested with a cut to size gun while attempting to rob in the church,” the statement read. 

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed being an ex-convict that gained his freedom from Oko Prison, Benin-City on 19/12/2024. He stated that he and his accomplice, one Ola whose surname is unknown now at large, conspired to rob the aforementioned church of the proceeds from the Church’s end of year harvest thanksgiving where he was arrested in the process, while his accomplice narrowly escaped arrest.

“Meanwhile, CP Umoru P. Ozigi,psc, mnips wishes the Christian faithfuls Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New year as surveillance patrols, stop and search to ensure public safety continues.”