By CHARLES IWUOHA

Gunmen at the weekend stormed the resident of the Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Rt. Rev. Lawson Elom, and charted away cash and other valuables worth millions of Naira.

The gunmen numbering over ten, used axe and destroyed the fence as well as one of the windows of the house to gain access into the house where the family members were sleeping.

News Express gathered that the robbers stormed the resident of the Bishop at about 1:00am on Friday night and robbed them till 4:00am without any security men challenging them.

The Bishop’s residence is located at Onwe Road near the former governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Onyinyi Egwu’s school popularly known as Hope High International School.

It was gathered that there is a police check points near the school that always checkmate the movement of motorists, and other road users but unfortunately, the day the armed men stormed within the area, nobody responded.

A relative and the Presbyter of Cathedral Church, Very. Rev. Uche Chukwuemeka, who narrated the incidents to newsmen in Abakaliki, said the robbers catered away everything in the house.

Chukwuemeka noted that it was lucky that the Bishop was not inside the house when the robbers stormed, stressing that the situation would have been so worst if he was inside the house.

According to him, “The robbers jumped into the compound and then broke through the window when the wife of the Bishop and children was sleeping.

“The robbers used axe and broke through the window. They came inside and surrounded the family members with gun. They collected their phones and ATM cards.

“They forced them to reveal their real ATM pin Number which they did. The robbers rushed to the Bank and withdrew all the money in their account.”

News Express further gathered that the robbers broke their kitchen, store and catered away gallons of oil, bags of beans, garri and other food items.

Other properties also carted away by the robbers include; 6 Plasma TV sets, and other valuable electronic equipment, the Bishop’s bag containing important documents.

It was gathered that the robbers after their operation called a taxi who came and parked the stolen properties.

News Express learnt that the Bishop has reported the matter to the Ebonyi State Police Command for them to wade into the incidents.

However, all efforts to get the reaction of Bishop Elom for further explanation of what really happened at the time of filling this report, proved abortive, as his phone numbers was switched off, whereas his aide said he traveled to one of the rural church.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Loveth Odah, said that her office was yet to be briefed on the development but avowed to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book soonest.

“My office has not been briefed about the robbery incident but I assured the members of the public that the police would do everything within their reach to bring the hoodlums to book, when we are briefed,” she said.

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