The Nigeria Police Force in Abia on Sunday confirmed the electrocution of a suspected thief popularly called ‘Bouncer’ in Aba while stealing from a church.
Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, the state PPRO confirmed his death.
He said the suspect was allegedly electrocuted while trying to steal the church’s electrical appliances and other equipment.
Mr Ogbonna added that the remains of the suspect had been deposited in a mortuary.
The incident happened at St Luke’s Anglican Church, Agbarevo Street, off Omuma Road, in Eziukwu-Asa-Okpuaja in Aba South LGA on Saturday midnight.
A worker in the church who pleaded anonymity, said they had recorded several robbery incidents on the church premises with no one caught to account for several missing items in the past.
He said on April 30 “Bouncer’s voice was heard shouting ‘oh Jesus!’ inside the church premises about midnight on Saturday.”
He explained that after the shout, they discovered his body on Sunday morning, confirming suspicions that the suspected thief lived around the church.
He alleged that the deceased had jumped into the church through the rear fence, dismantled equipment, and was cutting wires when power was restored, leading to his electrocution.
“This church has recorded several stealing cases in recent times. The thieves have made a mess of the house of God with their stealing techniques. We have been living at the mercy of God. Nothing is safe here. Not even the roofing sheets,” said the source.
“The church lost newly fixed roofing sheets worth millions of naira.
We have lost too many plastic chairs and seats worth hundreds of thousands of naira.”
The source added, “The last one that happened which shocked everyone was a very big goat which was used by a church member for thanksgiving.
And the goat valued at about N150,000 was tied up in the church compound but was
stolen the next day.
I am not happy about his death. I would have loved it if he was alive to repent, but this should be a lesson to others out there.”