Victor Uhoka

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

A 23-year-old suspected burglar, Victor Uhoka, has blamed an evil spirit for attempting to burgle into a clothe store for which he was arrested and detained in Benin.

The suspects who hails from Orsu local government area of Imo state, who told journalists that an evil spirit lured him to commit the act, however explained that the evil spirit left him after he was caught.

He said he went into burglary to enable him complete his diploma programme at the university.
Uhoka who was paraded by the Edo State Police Command allegedly burgled into a clothing store on Akenzua Street, off Airport road, in Oredo local government area of the state.

The suspect claimed to be a diploma student of Business Administration at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State, allegedly used an iron bar and hammer to break the door to the store at about 7 pm an the fateful day.

Luck however ran out of him when some residents in the area who spotted him, apprehended him and were about to lynch him before he was whisked away by some policemen.

He said, “I’m still a student at UNIZIK, Business Administration. I bought the bar hammer and bag with the little money I came with, about N4,000. My intention was to use it to remove the ceiling of the woman’s shop and collect the clothes but I did not succeed.

“It wasn’t my intention to do this. But this is my final year in my diploma and my grade point is not good and I have suffered for all these years to pass through the diploma but I could not make it. So, I decided to look for some money to give to our coordinator, who will offer us admission as a regular student, so that I can pass my courses.

“I went to a woman where she was selling her clothes and tried to enter her shop and collect her clothes before people saw me, started beating me and handed me over to the police. I went there with an iron bar around 7 pm.

“I don’t know how it came over me. It’s just that I was under pressure and panicky. I was pushed by an evil spirit. I am regretting why I did that and the spirit that made me to do that is no longer with me.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Osifo, explained that the suspect was arrested on April 21, following an alarm raised by some residents when he was sighted around the shop.

“Uhuka Victor came from a neighbouring state, preparing burglary equipment like a hammer to perfect his criminal action. He went to a shop at Akenzua in the afternoon to buy an item; he did that just to survey the store, only for him to resurface later in the night to bugle the shop.

“While the act was being carried out, people who heard the noise as he was breaking in alerted the police. The place was cordoned off and he was later arrested. He has confessed to the crime. Investigation is on; as soon as we conclude investigation, he will be charged to court,” he said.