Armed Robbers Strike At Church

Five pistol wielding men believed to be robbers stormed the New Life Assemblies of God Church at Abossey Okai in Accra on Friday evening while service was in session, and robbed one of the leaders of his money.

The leader, the Reverend Daniel Awulley-Quaye said to be the operator of Universal Forex Bureau at Abeka Lapaz, was robbed of 1.2 million CFA, ?350,000, a camera and three mobile phones. The robbers also shot and wounded three members of the church during the attack. One of them, Mr Wisdom Blavo, was shot in both legs and is on admission at the hospital.

A Kaneshie police source told the “Ghanaian Times” that the attack which took place around 6 pm on Friday during the evening church service, sent most of the church members sprawling on the floor and others taking cover in the pews. There was a stampede as most of them made for the doors to get out of the church.

The robbers according to the source, escaped in an unlicensed saloon car. The source said that, Rev. Awulley-Quaye after business that day decided to attend that evening’s church service before going home. Unknown to him, the robbers had trailed him to the church premises,” the source said. The robbers, feigning to be worshippers, entered the church hall, took positions and waited for the opportunity to strike. There could be no other opportune time than prayer time and they struck, attacking the church leader while firing indiscriminately to scarce away people.

Mr Blavo was said to have been shot when he attempted to retrieve the bag the robbers had taken from Rev. Awulley-Quaye. The other two were hit by stray bullets. No arrests have been made.

In a related development, Frank Otchere, reports from Kumasi that the Police have mounted an intensive search for a gang of eight armed robbers who raided the Atasomanso residence of Mr Ghazi Saoud, Managing Director of Paul Sagoe Sawmill (PSS), a wood processing complex here last Thursday. The robbers made away with an unspecified sum of money including foreign currencies, a Sony sound system and a pump action gun. In their rush to get away with their booty, they left behind a single-barrelled gun.

According to a police source, the robbers stormed the residence at about 2:30 am and tied up the watch-man after seizing his pump-action gun. Amidst the sporadic firing of gunshots they broke into the building, held Mr Saoud and his family hostage and ransacked the rooms apparently looking for money and succeeded in collecting some cedis and dollars before bolting.

Five pistol wielding men believed to be robbers stormed the New Life Assemblies of God Church at Abossey Okai in Accra on Friday evening while service was in session, and robbed one of the leaders of his money.

The leader, the Reverend Daniel Awulley-Quaye said to be the operator of Universal Forex Bureau at Abeka Lapaz, was robbed of 1.2 million CFA, ?350,000, a camera and three mobile phones. The robbers also shot and wounded three members of the church during the attack. One of them, Mr Wisdom Blavo, was shot in both legs and is on admission at the hospital.

A Kaneshie police source told the “Ghanaian Times” that the attack which took place around 6 pm on Friday during the evening church service, sent most of the church members sprawling on the floor and others taking cover in the pews. There was a stampede as most of them made for the doors to get out of the church.

The robbers according to the source, escaped in an unlicensed saloon car. The source said that, Rev. Awulley-Quaye after business that day decided to attend that evening’s church service before going home. Unknown to him, the robbers had trailed him to the church premises,” the source said. The robbers, feigning to be worshippers, entered the church hall, took positions and waited for the opportunity to strike. There could be no other opportune time than prayer time and they struck, attacking the church leader while firing indiscriminately to scarce away people.

Mr Blavo was said to have been shot when he attempted to retrieve the bag the robbers had taken from Rev. Awulley-Quaye. The other two were hit by stray bullets. No arrests have been made.

In a related development, Frank Otchere, reports from Kumasi that the Police have mounted an intensive search for a gang of eight armed robbers who raided the Atasomanso residence of Mr Ghazi Saoud, Managing Director of Paul Sagoe Sawmill (PSS), a wood processing complex here last Thursday. The robbers made away with an unspecified sum of money including foreign currencies, a Sony sound system and a pump action gun. In their rush to get away with their booty, they left behind a single-barrelled gun.

According to a police source, the robbers stormed the residence at about 2:30 am and tied up the watch-man after seizing his pump-action gun. Amidst the sporadic firing of gunshots they broke into the building, held Mr Saoud and his family hostage and ransacked the rooms apparently looking for money and succeeded in collecting some cedis and dollars before bolting.