Two individuals have been apprehended by law enforcement officials from the Edo State Police Command for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Imubhin Juliet, a pastor at Deeper Life Church located in Benin City. The suspects are also accused of perpetrating an attack on church members during the incident.
During a briefing with reporters in Benin City, State Police Commissioner Funsho Adegboye identified the arrested suspects as 26-year-old Brown John and 30-year-old Ayodele Aziz. He mentioned that the arrests were made by the command’s specialized team following a tip-off received two days after the criminal act.
According to the commissioner, Imubhin Juliet, the pastor of Deeper Life Church, reported the unfortunate incident where armed individuals entered the church during a worship session, brandishing firearms and forcibly taking valuables from the congregation. The pastor herself was abducted and driven away in her Toyota Highlander with registration number AGL739HR to an undisclosed location, where the perpetrators coerced her into revealing her ATM PIN, subsequently withdrawing money from her account.
The police team intervened based on provided information, intercepting the vehicle along the Benin-Auchi road and successfully recovering both the pastor and her vehicle.
In a statement, Brown John claimed innocence, asserting that he was unaware of the robbery and kidnapping schemes. He explained that he had accompanied a friend to assist in delivering a vehicle to its rightful owner, only to be apprehended by the authorities en route.
Ayodele, the other suspect, similarly distanced himself from any wrongdoing, attributing his involvement to a friend – now absconded – who had promised him payment for assisting in the vehicle’s transportation. He clarified that on the day of the incident, he had attended an OPC meeting before visiting his father, claiming ignorance of the criminal activities conducted by his acquaintances.
He recounted, “I was at a bar with my friend, and I agreed to accompany them for the vehicle delivery as he mentioned compensation for our services.”