17th May, 2011
Dare-devil armed robbers broke into a new generation church in Benin, South-South Nigeria, and raped several women who were having a vigil among other members of the congregation, P.M.NEWS has learnt.
The robbers also collected valuables belonging to the church members while the raid lasted.
Luck, however, ran out on three of them as they were arrested and paraded by the police yesterday.
The five-man gang had entered the church located at Uhunmwode area of the state while the members were praying. They allegedly stopped the prayers and switched off the generating set that was used to power the church.
The gang was said to be led by Sunday Agbola, who told P.M.NEWS after his arrest that that it was not their first time of robbing a church.
According to him, the gang specialised in robbing churches and sometimes raping women worshippers.
According to him, “ we go to churches where vigils are organised and the first thing we do is to switch off the generating set and once that is done we go into operation, robbing the worshippers of their valuables. Sometimes if the atmosphere allows us and we have the time, we may have sexual intercourse with any of the beautiful girls and women we like.â€
He said they do not look for conducive places to rape the women, but do it within the church and in the presencce of the other church members at gun point.
While pleading for forgiveness, Agbola said he had realised his mistakes and is ready to turn a new leaf.
Meanwhile, the police in Benin have foiled a kidnap attempt on a member of the Jehovah’s Witness, Mrs. Patience Imahenahue, and killed one of the kidnappers who was trying to escape.
The kidnappers had stormed the church located opposite Air Force Primary School, Uzama Street, Oliha Quarters within the city while the members were holding morning service.
Eye witnesses said one of the kidnappers was already sitting in the church while the other four drove straight to the gate of the church, pulled out their guns and ordered every member in the hall to lie flat on the ground.
They then kidnapped Mrs. Imahenahue and forced her into a waiting Honda car marked: Abuja BP 634 KUJ.
They then attempted to drive off but the police sighted the woman struggling while being forced into the car and chased them.
In the ensuing gun battle, the police killed one of the kidnappers named Njoku Kingsley while the others escaped.
The police also recovered arms from the car and rescued the victim.
Yesterday, the Edo State Police Command also paraded 19 suspects, 10 of them arrested for alleged robbery and 9 for kidnapping.
—YOMI OBADITAN/ Benin City