Armed robbers rape female worshippers during church vigil

oge okonkwo

March 31, 2015 2:14 PM

The masked robbers,on storming the church premises, rained bullets on the roof and ordered members to lie down. They then proceeded to rape some of the women and ladies

Members of the Salvation Givers Church Ministries International, are currently recounting a horrible experience in the hands of robbers who unleashed terror during their church vigil on Friday, March 20.

Leadership reports that the church which held a special holy ghost programme tagged “Kokobo Night,” was stormed by armed men about 4a.m.

The incident occurred as members of the church located at 13 Onaiwu street, off 2nd Cemetery road, opposite Auntie Rose Group of Schools in the ancient capital town, had closed the prayer session and were about to leave when six gunmen ordered them to return to their seats .

It was gathered that the robbers were said to have earlier raided a storey building near Ewu Otubu community where they robbed some tenants living in four different flats of the house and reportedly shot two persons dead, including a policeman, while others sustained injuries.

Both the dead and injured were rushed to the Time Hospital on Agboma Street on Ekenwan road in the city. It was gathered that the robbers snatched the car of one of the victims.

The masked robbers,on storming the church premises, rained bullets on the roof and ordered members to lie down. They then proceeded to rape some of the women and ladies.

They were said to have raped another set of nine women during their attack on another worship centre.

A new comer to the church was beaten black and blue by the bandits when the member could not point out the pastor of the church for the robbers to demand money.

They had asked that the pastor of the church be identified but no one could muster the courage to say a word, an action that infuriated the gangsters, so they took one of the young ladies and raped her at gunpoint, as well as others who kept sealed lips.

Most of the members sustained serious wounds as the scampered for safety, and also lost valuable items including laptops, mobile phones, and cash.

A church member who failed to mention her name said that the operation lasted for about 45 minutes. She said the robbers later ransacked the entire church and made away with cash and other items.

oge okonkwo