Tragedy yesterday struck in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, when armed robbers invaded a church during service in search of cash and killed two policemen.
It was gathered that the armed robbers invaded the Vine Branch Church, on Queen Elizabeth Road, during the church’s offering and tithe period, and swooped on the officers of a second generation bank.
Sources close to the church said unknown to members of the church, the robbers reportedly have laid ambush on the church by mixing with other church members expecting the bank officials to move out of the church with the tithes and offerings.
Sources said trouble started when the bank officers stepped into the church to pick the cash offerings and tithes.
They said with the robbers already inside the church, they swooped on them, shooting sporadically, forcing worshippers to flee the church for safety.
It was further learnt that the two policemen said to be in front of their bank’s van and the other sitting at behind were shot dead in the van.
The driver of the van was however lucky, as one of the armed robbers was said to had pleaded on his behalf, arguing that he was not a police officer.
However, some of the church members that sustained injuries during the robbery were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Sources at the church said the robbers were unable to snatched to escape with any cash from the offerings and tithes.
