The leadership of Methodist church Nigeria, Dioceses of Abakaliki, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, over a continuous invasion of armed robbers in Churches located in Ebonyi State.
The leadership of the church, who spoke to journalists in Abakaliki through Rev. Victor Mbaji, priest in charge of English section of the church, said Churches are now the targets of armed robbers in Ebonyi state.
He said that armed robbers invaded the headquarters of Methodist church in Ebonyi state, located near Ebonyi state government house, police command and carted away huge sum of money and other valuables worth millions of naria.
Recall that, Armed robbers had early last month attacked the residents of the Bishop of the same Church, Rt. Rev. Lawson Elom and looted all the properties and huge sum of money from his house.
The Priest, Mgbaji narrated further, the ugly encounter of the church in the hands of the armed robbers, regretted that none of the robbers who robbed the Bishop is arrested up till now.
According to him: “I am not happy. Can someone tell me what methodist church and her ministers did to this Ebonyi State criminals? This is unfair, an attack on anointed is an attack on God.
“Last night, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Abakaliki was attacked by armed robbers. They robbed the Diocesan office, and one Business shop that deals on wears at the front of the church.
“They raided and carted away valuables and money from Diocesan office, parked monies and wears from the business shop of one of our tenants, attempted church auditorium but thank God, time could not allow them to enter church hall and ministers manses.
“No life was lost, but something needs to be done urgently. The servants of God and house of God should not be targets to criminals. What do we have, that we can’t sleep well every night?
“It is no longer funny. We need to arise to the challenges of this time both in prayers and in Security, before ministers both high ranking and low ranking will be afraid to come to Abakaliki Diocese for ministerial duties.
He noted further that: “Bishop House attacked on 30th May and Diocesan Headquarters attacked on 2nd July the same year. Yet noon of them is apprehended” he stressed
When contacted, the police public relations officer, PPRO, DSP Loveth Odah, Ebonyi state police command, said the command is yet to be briefed on the development but confirmed the continues raiding of Churches by armed robbers in the state.
According to her: “Armed robbers are now targeting Churches. The robbers equally invaded a Church I worship and carter away valuables there. There is nothing in the church except the musical instruments.
“They kept coming and they almost carted away all the musical instruments there. It is very unfortunate that some people will allow themselves to be used by the devil to destroy or take away what is being used to serve God.
“If the robbers have stolen things from that Methodist Church, the church leaders should immediately contact the next police station that is near them, so that the matter be investigated and culprits be brought to book.
“I’m not away yet that the place was robbed but I know that Churches are being robbed including my own Church, and so, it is possible,” she noted.
