I stole from God’s house because I know He’ll understand, says pastor

A pastor who was arrested for always breaking into churches to steal musical instrument said that he decided to take to the crime because he knew that God would understand.

The suspect, Pastor Tope Kolawole, said he never wanted to embrace robbery. He said that he had battled seriously within about taking to steal from churches, telling himself that he was an ordained pastor, but another voice chided him to think of survival first.

He however decided to break into churches, to steal musical instrument after some of his friends how to do it.
He recalled: “I told my friends that I could not do what they asked me, especially since it involved my going into churches to commit this evil act! I also reminded some of them that I’m an ordained pastor. But my friends asked me what my pastor post had to do with my achieving my dream in life. He also said that if I should steal from God’s house, God would understand that my problems lead me into the act. When I got back home, I thought of it and decided to give the business a trial.”

The police said that the Kolawole was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos Police Command Police on March 25, 2015.

The downfall of the suspect started after the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, received information that some groups of men, suspected to be robbers, were breaking into a church premises along Shogunle.

Aderanti had immediately ordered the Officer in Charge of SARS, SP. Abba Kyari, to get a team of policemen and lead them to the scene. The suspect was caught at the Alive International Ministry, premises, along Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos.

He was found in possession of some musical instruments. The items are one power amplifier, two musical mixer, one keyboard, one stabilzer, two DVD players, and one 32inches Samsung plasma TV.

The stolen items had been recovered and refund to the church.

Investigators have also discovered that Kolawole had once been arrested and remanded in Badagry Prison in 2014. According to him, he was arrested and remanded by the Lagos State Taskforce from Alausa division for unlawfully hawking on the highway. He said he spent a month in prison.

He said that he went into the crime because of frustration. He added: “I went in to breaking and stealing from churches after I had nothing to do or nowhere to source money after I left prison. I had a diploma degree as a pastor from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC)School of theology in 2008 after which I was transferred to a branch of CAC Oke Iyanu at Alakia, Ibadan, to practice as a pastor for three months.”

Kolawole said that some of his friends, whom he met when he was selling on the highway, initiated him into breaking and entering into churches.

He said: “I began hawking phone accessories along Oshodi road, where I met some group of boys whose leader was called Alausa. They are into the business of buying and selling musical instruments. After my release, I went back to Oshodi to see my fellow guys. It was then that Alausa, who had been assisting me financially, introduced me to the business.”

The suspect recalled his second operation, which occurred last year. He went to a church at Abulegba area, where he stole a keyboard, two mixers and an amplifier. He also said that he went to another church in Sango-Ota, where he carted away a mixer and a keyboard. The fourth and fifth churches were located at Ojota and Oregun respectively. The last operation at Alive International Ministry at Iyana Ipaja saw his defeat.

 He said: “I only break into churches whenever I’m broke. I didn’t want to depend on my wife who is a nurse. I used to attend The Lords Chosen Charismatic Church, but left when my life was not making a meaning. I had to move to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). I once met a woman whose daughter was sick at the Holy Ghost Service and I prayed for the girl and she was healed. I know I’ve done a very sinful thing before God and man all because I refused to yield to the call of God and this has led me to this unpleasant state.”