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Kolawole Temitope, a former armed robber who has turned evangelist, has shared details of his decades-long criminal past and how he eventually changed his life in 2021. Born in 1969, Temitope said he grew up in Ondo State and currently lives in Ikorodu, Lagos.
He explained that he began stealing as a child and was first arrested at the age of 17 in 1986. After spending time in juvenile facilities and prisons, he said he eventually learned how to use weapons while incarcerated, which pushed him deeper into armed robbery after his release in 1990.
Temitope admitted that he targeted churches, especially branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, because they often had valuable equipment and money. He said he also robbed private individuals and usually operated with a gang of three to five members, acting as the group leader.
Despite his criminal activities, he claimed he never used charms, choosing instead to pray before each operation. According to him, his parents had previously tried spiritual and traditional remedies to stop his theft, but nothing worked, so he rejected charms later in life.
He revealed that he was imprisoned 12 times and spent more than 25 years behind bars but did not truly repent while in custody. He described Nigerian prisons as harsh and unequal, claiming wealthy inmates received better treatment while poor detainees suffered overcrowding and hardship.
His turning point came in September 2021 when he found a paper with a religious message titled “One Day.” He said reading it moved him deeply, prompting him to contact the writer and seek spiritual guidance. From that moment, he said he abandoned crime and began preaching.
Today, Temitope describes himself as an evangelist who visits prisons to share his testimony. He said life after prison has been difficult due to stigma, unemployment, and a hand injury that prevents heavy labour. He supports himself by doing menial jobs while caring for his son, whose mother left during his incarceration.
He also reflected on the fate of his former associates, saying most of them died in prison or during criminal operations. He believes he survived by divine mercy and emphasized that he never killed anyone during his criminal years.
Temitope says his story is meant to warn young people about crime and encourage others to believe that change is possible, no matter how long someone has lived a destructive life.
