Arm Robbers Invade Church, Kill Pastors

Dare-devil armed robbers yesterday morning besieged Salem City in Warri, the headquarters of God's Kingdom Society (GKS), killing two ministers of the church, a laity member and a security guard.

A statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of GKS, Mr. Benedict Hart stated that over 15 heavily armed robbers invaded the expansive compound around 2 a.m., shooting indiscriminately and robbing residents of various blocks of the compound.

In the process, two ministers of the church, (names withheld) and a middle aged male member, who came in to spend the night as a guest in one of the blocks in the compound were killed.

Wife of a senior minister of the church received head injuries from shrapnel that flew in different directions, as the robbers, in an attempt to gain entry, blasted her room key with their gun.

The robbers were said to have raided the houses of eight of the residents and were insistently asking for money. Pleas from the residents that the ministers had no money to give, as they were not paid salaries fell on deaf ears.

The victims were forced to part with their valuables, including cash, handsets, jewelry, and wristwatches.

The robbers reportedly left at around 4.15 a.m. through the fence at the back of the church compound, having cut the spiral wire used to secure the concrete wall between GKS and neighbouring College of Commerce, Warri.

The police later arrived at the scene and immediately began investigations into the incident.

The bodies of the deceased were later taken to the mortuary, while the injured were receiving treatment at an undisclosed.

Meanwhile, Salem City wore a mournful look yesterday, as members of the church and sympathisers trooped in to commiserate with the victims.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in a telephone call to GKS President, Mr. O. E. Aighalua, expressed his condolences and sympathised with the church over the incident.

Dare-devil armed robbers yesterday morning besieged Salem City in Warri, the headquarters of God's Kingdom Society (GKS), killing two ministers of the church, a laity member and a security guard.

A statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of GKS, Mr. Benedict Hart stated that over 15 heavily armed robbers invaded the expansive compound around 2 a.m., shooting indiscriminately and robbing residents of various blocks of the compound.

In the process, two ministers of the church, (names withheld) and a middle aged male member, who came in to spend the night as a guest in one of the blocks in the compound were killed.

Wife of a senior minister of the church received head injuries from shrapnel that flew in different directions, as the robbers, in an attempt to gain entry, blasted her room key with their gun.

The robbers were said to have raided the houses of eight of the residents and were insistently asking for money. Pleas from the residents that the ministers had no money to give, as they were not paid salaries fell on deaf ears.

The victims were forced to part with their valuables, including cash, handsets, jewelry, and wristwatches.

The robbers reportedly left at around 4.15 a.m. through the fence at the back of the church compound, having cut the spiral wire used to secure the concrete wall between GKS and neighbouring College of Commerce, Warri.

The police later arrived at the scene and immediately began investigations into the incident.

The bodies of the deceased were later taken to the mortuary, while the injured were receiving treatment at an undisclosed.

Meanwhile, Salem City wore a mournful look yesterday, as members of the church and sympathisers trooped in to commiserate with the victims.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in a telephone call to GKS President, Mr. O. E. Aighalua, expressed his condolences and sympathised with the church over the incident.