Two suspected burglars identified as Jackson Oke-Oghene and Ikpomwonsa Osayande have been apprehended by officials of the Edo State Police Command in Benin City.
It was gathered that the suspects are members of a gang that specialise in breaking into people’s homes in Benin City on Sundays when everyone has gone to church.
According to Standard Gazette, one of the suspects Osayande, last Sunday, monitored the occupants of a house at Igo on upper Ekewan Road, Benin city and allegedly forced his way into the house through the window when the occupants left.
He allegedly ransacked all the rooms in the house and stole a cash sum of 15,000 Euros, equivalent to 9 million Naira. The suspect was said to have taken the euros to a Bureau D change at Kings Square in Benin city to exchange to Naira.
According to the report, the Bureau D change operator, upon sensing that it was stolen money, allegedly gave the suspect the sum of 5 million Naira instead of 9 Million Naira.
The second suspect, Jackson Oke-Oghene, was alleged to have stormed different houses in the same area and stole items worth thousands of Naira.
However, luck ran out on him when he entered a home when the female occupants were around. They caught him and shouted for help.
The quick response of residents in the area helped in apprehending the suspect, who then named his cohort.
“l saw the man jump into my room through the window, and l calculated and held him for people to come.”
The victim, whose 15,000 euros was stolen appealed to the police to help recover the money.
“The 15,000 euros he stole was sent to me by my sister in Europe to handle some urgent family issues. I appeal to the police to help me recover the money and prosecute the thieves.” he said.
One of the suspects, Osayande Ikpomwonsa, in an interview, said he used part of the money he stole to buy a car and pay his father’s house rent.
“l entered the house when nobody was at home and met the 15,000 euros after l searched everywhere. The 5 million naira l got was used to buy a Toyota Camry car, two motorcycles while l built shops in my father’s house for rent.” he said.
