Armed robbers attack SDA church in Kumasi, one injured, many traumatized
One person has been injured and many traumatzed after a gang of armed robbers attacked members of the Adoato-Adumanu branch of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church during an all-night prayer service Sunday.
The victim, Dr Osei Mensah, was hit in the head with the butt of a pump-action assault rifle by one of the robbers who was angered by the victim’s delay to surrender to them his personal belongings.
He has since been treated and discharged by a health facility in Kumasi.
The robbers took away cash of over GHȻ 8,000, mobile phones, electronic gadgets and other personal belongings of their victims.
About 100 worshippers including pastors were robbed of their personal belongings, mostly phones, laptop and cash at gun point by the unidentified assailants during an all-night service on Sunday, December 24 at about 3am.
He explained that :”The year is getting to an end and our church, the SDA church, Adoato branch, we went for our watch night and there was prayer section for the night and when it was about 3:00am, we heard a huge noise at our door and all of sudden we saw three armed robbers with guns here and there. Two of them entered into the church house and one was at the door”.
He added:”I was able to see them because I was sitting down there. I don’t know it was through the power of the Lord who allowed me. I was sitting there, they were just going round here and there and they saw me but did not ask me any question.”
He said the armed robbers searched the church members and took away mobile phones, laptops and cash.
“Let’s say approximately, it must be GHS6,000 or GHS7, 000” were taken away by the robbers from the church members.
He said some of the congregants received bruises from gun barrel of the suspected robbers.
By the time a police patrol team arrived, the robbers had already bolted.
He said the case has been reported at the Sofoline/Suntreso Police station and they are expected to write their statement on Monday, December 25.
Meanwhile the church has also condemned the robbery attack in a press statement.
Below is the full details :
PRESS STATEMENT
Mid-Central Ghana Conference of SDA condemns robbery attack on Adoato-Adumanu SDA in Kumasi
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IT is with much sympathy that the Mid-Central Ghana Conference (MICG) of the Northern Ghana Union Mission (NOGH) of SDA, wishes to sooth the sorrows and heal the wounds of all victims of robbery attack that has transpired at the Adoato-Adumanu SDA Church in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
This menace is codemned in a measure that it is only when there is sanitised security that the Church as one of the agencies of socialisation, could operate to change lives in society.
The church held an all-night service from Saturday December 23 to Sunday, December 24, 2017 and the service was co-ordinated by three Pastors for a congregation of over 100.
Around 3.00am on Sunday, two unidentified young men invaded the church house and subjected those therein to robbery attack.
They managed to rob them at gun point and made away with the victims’ personal possessions, mostly, cash, mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
They also left some victims with bruises during the attack. A formal complaint has been lodged at the Suntreso/Sofoline Police Station for investigations.
MICG has learnt that similar attack was meted out on Ahinsan SDA Church in the South Ghana Ghana Conference (SCGC) of SDA on Friday, December 15, 2017 and robbery attacks on churches are fast gaining notoriety.
The MICG expresses its deepest sympathises with the Adoato-Adumanu church for this ugly and distasteful deveopment, consoling victims to build their hope and solace in the Lord. The Scripture says in all things – good or bad, sweet or bitter, positive or negative – we need to give thanks to the Lord.
The MICG believes in the biblical accolade that “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord” and prays that the Lord replinishes all victims with the personal belongings lost to the attack in double or triple portions.
However, the MICG would take turns to implore the Police to launch thorough investigations into the attack, if possible, the penetrators be made to face the full rigours of the law.
It is also worthwhile to use this opportunity to advise all other churches, not only SDA churches but other Christian denominations that will be organising popular 31st night services to be wary of robbery attacks.
Thank you.
Pastor Alexander Marfoh
(Communication/Religious Liberty/Public Affairs Director, MICG)
SIGNED
0202029093
Source: otecfmghana.com
