Giving my mom befitting burial led me into robbery, says suspect

A robbery suspect in a Delta State community, Emmanuel Chinagorom, told police that his attempt to give his mother a proper burial drove him to crime. The 24‑year‑old was arrested by members of the Agbor Gha‑Ihun Vigilante Group in Agbor, Delta State, after being caught red‑handed in a local shop. According to the vigilantes, Chinagorom specialized in stealing phones and other valuable items in Agbor and its environs.

In an interview with reporters, the Abia State‑born suspect, who described himself as an electrical technician by trade, said he turned to theft to afford a befitting burial for his late mother, whose body remains in a mortuary. “I entered shops pretending to be a customer, but my aim was always to steal valuable items like phones,” he explained, adding that this was his first time in Agbor before he was caught.

Chinagorom also admitted working with a northerner based in Asaba who bought the stolen phones. He said he chose theft because he had no one to help him start a legitimate life. While pleading for forgiveness, he acknowledged that his criminal activities had brought disgrace upon himself.

Comrade Monday Kiyem, chairman of the Agbor Gha‑Ihun Vigilante, told journalists that the group would continue to make Agbor and its surroundings unsafe for criminals like Chinagorom. During their investigation, the vigilantes found several telecommunications SIM cards and phones in the suspect’s possession. Many victims, contacted later, reported that their phones had been stolen at various locations. “Some victims from Agbor came to our office to identify their phones and recounted how the suspect entered their shops pretending to buy an item but ended up stealing their phones,” Kiyem said. He added that he would hand Emmanuel over to the police for further investigation and pursue his fleeing accomplices.

The Special Assistant on Security to the Delta State Governor, also Comrade Kiyem, urged anyone with criminal intent to leave Agbor or be prepared to face the full force of the law when caught.