Just three days after walking out of the Oko Correctional Facility in Benin City, 35-year-old John Agbontean was back behind bars, apprehended by police for attempting to rob worshippers at a local church during a Sunday service.
The shocking incident occurred on December 22, 2024, at the Restoration Gospel Ministry Church located at No. 11 Oviasuyi Street, Benin City. The suspect, armed with a cut-to-size firearm, was caught red-handed in the middle of an attempted heist at the church’s end-of-year harvest thanksgiving service.
According to the Edo State Police Command, officers acted swiftly after receiving a distress call from the congregation around 11:45 a.m. Local police responded by dispatching operatives from the Saint Saviour Divisional Headquarters to the scene.
“It was a swift operation,” said SP Moses Joel Yamu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer. “We received an emergency call from churchgoers, and our officers arrived just in time to apprehend the suspect during the robbery attempt. Agbontean was armed with a cut-to-size gun when he was arrested.”
The police described the attempted robbery as bold and audacious, especially given the timing of the crime—during a highly anticipated annual church event that was packed with attendees. It also raised serious concerns about Agbontean’s quick return to criminal activity after his release from prison.
“He had barely been out for three days,” Yamu added, noting that the suspect’s swift reoffending sent a grim message about recidivism among ex-convicts.
Agbontean, a notorious criminal from Benin City, had recently served time for an unspecified crime at the Oko Correctional Facility, from which he was released on December 19, 2024. During questioning, he admitted to conspiring with an accomplice, identified only as “Ola,” to rob the church of its harvest proceeds.
While Agbontean was apprehended, his accomplice managed to escape before police arrived at the scene. Law enforcement officials have since launched a manhunt to track down Ola, urging members of the public to report any information that could lead to his capture.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the plan to rob the church was well thought out, with Agbontean and his accomplice reportedly keeping a close watch on the church’s harvest thanksgiving service for several days before striking. The church was known to collect large sums during the annual service, making it an appealing target for criminals.
