By Steve Oko
UMUAHIA — A middle-aged man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle parked outside the Assemblies of God Church on Item Street, Umuahia, Abia State.
The incident occurred barely a month after a Toyota Sienna belonging to the wife of a traditional ruler, HRH Eze Izuwa, was stolen from the church premises during a worship service.
Following that incident on June 7, church authorities said they strengthened security around the premises to prevent further thefts.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect, who allegedly pretended to be mentally unstable when confronted, had been under surveillance by the church’s Royal Rangers security team after he was seen attempting to force open a parked vehicle.
According to witnesses, the suspect allegedly used a spanner to unlock the car after arriving in a commercial tricycle, which he reportedly parked along Umuwaya Road near the AP Filling Station.
He was said to have successfully opened the vehicle before the owner, who had been alerted by Royal Rangers stationed near the Ohafia Street junction, rushed to the scene and found his supposedly locked car already open.
The vehicle owner, who is not a member of the church, said he had initially planned to park farther from the church but decided to move closer because he had a feeling something might happen.
He said he returned to discover the car unlocked and a spanner inside the vehicle. According to him, when he questioned the suspect about the tool, the man claimed he was only trying to check something before attempting to flee. He was eventually apprehended with the assistance of bystanders.
When questioned, the suspect identified himself as Kalu Ojo from Abriba in Abia State, claimed Mbaise in Imo State as his maternal home, and said he lived near the National War Museum in Umuahia. Witnesses said his conflicting statements raised suspicions about his true identity.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to officers at the Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia, for further investigation.
Confirming the arrest, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the CPS, Mr. Osage, said the suspect was in police custody and that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether he is linked to a wider vehicle theft syndicate operating in Umuahia.
The incident has renewed concerns over rising cases of vehicle theft in the Abia State capital, with residents calling for tighter security around churches and other public places where vehicles are often left unattended.
Recent incidents include the theft of a magistrate’s vehicle from court premises in May and the theft of a Toyota Camry belonging to Vanguard Correspondent Steve Oko from outside his residence.
Reacting to Sunday’s arrest, the church secretary, Deacon Amos Okoro, said the church had experienced repeated cases of theft, including the stealing of car batteries and other valuables belonging to worshippers.
He said the church responded by strengthening its security arrangements, adding that the latest arrest demonstrated the effectiveness of the new measures.
Okoro warned criminals to stay away from the church, stressing that efforts to protect worshippers and their property would continue.
