Three armed robbers did not know what they were dealing when they stormed the home of an anointed man of God and robbed his family.
The pastor, Prof. Benjamin Nwaneri, said he was shocked when he heard how the three armed men scaled the walls of his fence and landed into his compound, while his wife and children were fast asleep.
After parading round the compound, looking for means to gain access into the apartment, they finally hit on the idea of climbing the top of one of the cars.
It was through that means that they landed on the balcony of the house and entered the apartment.
The sleeping members of the family were scared out of their wits when they opened their eyes to flashing torchlights on their faces and found strangers staring coldly at them.
The robbers were said to have ransacked the entire apartment, snatching phones, money, laptops and other valuables.
They had also attempted to make away with the two cars found in the compound, but one of the cars disappointed them.
They decided to make do with one. They were already in the getaway car, celebrating their success when they ran into a police team.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, in charge of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State, revealing further how the three bandits were arrested, said: “On March, 5, 2014, a gang of armed robbers invaded residents of Egbeda area of Lagos, at the wee hours of the night, dispossessing them of various properties, including laptop, jewelry, cash, Smart phones, amongst others.
“The robbers snatched a Toyota Camry, marked EKY621BH from one Professor Benjamin Nwaneri, residing in the neighbourhood. At about 5:30am, a team of detectives on surveillance intercepted the car with three occupants at the Ojota axis of Lagos. One Emmanuel Ambrose was arrested, while the other two took to their heels. However, Audu Akeem, another member of the gang, was arrested while trying to escape on motorbike. The suspects have confessed to the crime, while Professor Benjamin Nwaneri has identified his car.”
Nwaneri, who said that he was not at home when the robbers struck, explained further: “I was not in Lagos when the robbery happened. I was attending a meeting at UNIZIK, Awka, in Anambra State. I left for Awka on Monday. My children and wife were sleeping in the apartment when they felt someone flashing torchlight on their sleeping faces. The time was about 3am.
“The house was fenced and the gate locked with padlock. They jumped the fence and went into our compound. They climbed on top one of the vehicles in the yard and jumped into the balcony.
“There was no light that day. They gained access into our home and ransacked everywhere, collecting phones and money. They took the two keys to my cars. They were not able to take away the jeep because it would not kick start. They took away the second car, which was new. The car is not up to a year old.”
According to Nwaneri, after the hoodlums had left, he received a frantic phone call from his son, explaining to him how robbers had just robbed them.
“I quickly called Idimu Police Station. I was interacting with the Idimu policemen when I suddenly received another phone call and dropped the first to pick the incoming one,” recalled Nwaneri. “The caller was one of the FSARS men. Apparently, a SARS team noticed the way the car was parked on the road and the way the driver was struggling to demobilize it. The team went over to ask quiz the driver. The driver claimed that he’s name was Benjamin Nwaneri. He claimed my identity.
“The team went thoroughly through the vehicles particulars, saw my phone number and called. I picked. The police officer said that he had just spoken with a driver who said his name was Benjamin. I told him that the man was a thief! That they just robbed us few minutes ago!”
Nwaneri later learnt that one of the policemen, who was standing close to the doors of the vehicles that was being checked, would have been killed, but for his quick reflex action.
As soon as it dawned on the bandits that they had reached the end of the road, one of them had attempted to shoot the nearest policeman. But the policeman had swiftly shot him first, inflicting injury.
Nwaneri said: “Members of the Nigerian Police Force should be appreciated. If you go to the back of this building (FSARS), where their offices are, it’s an eyesore! I have decided to put up a write up to the IGP.
“Welfare is not all about promotions. One of my PHD is on Human Resources. They should make these policemen happy! Do you know that one of the policemen who arrested these robbers would have been shot?”
Asked if he was not part of several Nigerians who used to hurl insults at members of the force, Nwaneri replied: “I’m not part of the people that used to curse the police. I’m also a pastor and used to go to police stations to settle disputes. My father was an inspector of Police. Okay, let me not all deny it. Let me just say maybe 70-30, I criticise them.”
Nwaneri said that as a man of God, it was not enough for him to forgive the robbers who terrified his family and robbed his home.
According to him, the robber had sinned against the nation, not the church.
His words: “The law that governs the nation is not the law of the bible. The sin now is against the nation, so let the nation decide what to do with them. If it had been a sin against the church, then I would have said, let’s give them more chances to see if they would change. But now, even if I declare them forgiven, the law of the land has a statement to make.”
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