"God has forgiven me, I'm no longer a thief" - robbery suspect says

A 32-year-old man who was arrested for being a member of a notorious robbery gang has claimed to be an 'anointed' pastor.

Sunday Ajewole, a father of three confessed to be the weapon supplier for his gang that has been terrorizing Lagos and its environs but claimed that was in the past as he has become a changed man.

Reports say Ajewole was apprehended after the police had investigated a robbery incident at a bank in Ondo state and a bureau de- change office in Ayobo, Lagos.

Speaking to crime alert, Ajewole boldly maintained he never went to rob with three other suspected members who had also been arrested by the police.

He said: “ I know I have sinned . But God has forgiven me. Today, I am a changed man . I am not only born again, I am one of the Pastors in the cell! If I come out of this alive, I am going to continue preaching the gospel of God.

Yes! I was once a cultist. But that belongs to the past because God has forgiven me.

“I joined the cult four years ago after my friend, Tunde, initiated me. I was compelled to join because business was no more booming. I own a house in Ayobo, a suburb of Iyana Ipaja,which was built ten years ago, while I was working in a filling station. Three years ago, I sold my golf car and used the proceed to build a shop in front of my house.

“I went into supply of kerosene and diesel in Ayobo area of Lagos. But all of a sudden, things began to fall apart.

“I was arrested because my friend Omoloja, (one of the suspects ) brought a gun to the Aiye confraternity temple in Isefun Ayobo. Omoloja is a land grabber, he is also a member of our cult . When I asked him how he got the gun, he said it was meant for security purpose.

Owing to the fact that I was the third in command, the gun was kept in my possession . I kept it in an uncompleted building. But I never went to any operation with them. My involvement is simply because I kept their weapons”.

But other arrested members described his claim as a liar, insisting that he went with them to the Ayobo operation where some Bureau-de-change operators were attacked and cash, both in foreign and local currencies were taken away. They also disclosed that three of their weapons were in Ajewole’s possession.

According to Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the case is still under investigation.