Robbers kill two, raid church, buildings in Benin

No fewer than two persons were reportedly killed in the early hours of Friday when a

gang of robbers raided a storey building near Ewuotubu community, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.

The robbers, numbering six, were said to have raid four buildings in the area, killing two persons, one of whom was said to be a policeman.

It was learnt that the armed men also made away with a vehicle belonging to one of the victims, in addition to carting away other valuable items.

Many, who were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack, were reportedly rushed to the Time Hospital on Ekenwan road in the state capital.

Our correspondent also gathered that the gunmen later raided a pentecostal church, Salvation Givers Church International, located at 13, Onaiwu Street, Off 2nd Cemetery road, in Benin, at about 4am, a few minutes after a night prayer session.

The robbers were said to have shot sporadically, forcing the faithful back into the church, before dispossessing them of their valuable belongings.

A member of the church, who pleaded anonymity, said the robbers ordered the victims to lie down, claiming that the bandits might have raped some of the women and ladies in the process.

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The source said many of the church members were beaten up by the robbers when they failed to identify the pastor to surrender the proceeds of the church.

The armed men, however, later made away with valuable items, including cash from the church’s safe.

Confirming the raid on the community, the Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Edoigiawerie, said one of the robbers had been arrested.

Edoigiawerie said the command had yet to receive any report of the robbery in the church.