Christmas Day: Arm Robbers Attacks Redeemed Church In Abuja

Suspected Dare-devil armed robbers stormed the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Madalla in the outskirts of Abuja on Christmas Eve, truncating their celebration by carting away musical equipment worth millions of Naira slated for use during the event, New Telegraph reports.

The church, located in Madalla New site, was decorated in glowing colours by its members in preparation for a night of songs and dances before men of underworld stormed the place, what members described as a sacrilege.

Sunday Telegraph gathered that the robbers broke into the well-decorated church hall and made away with entire music instrument estimated to cost over N3 million.

The robbers, who removed the protective iron rods and burglary proofs at the entrance of the Church, did not spare any item in sight.

List of music instruments carted away include, machine console, heavy speakers, drums, mixers, microphones, generator and other auxiliary music instruments of the church.

A frontline member of the church who confirmed the incident to Sunday Telegraph said the incident had been formally reported at the Madalla Police Station.

“We were fully prepared in anticipation to uniquely celebrate the Christmas with a bashing Christmas Carol. Our members had painstakingly rehearsed with our music instrument, good ones they were.

"The church premises renovated, decorated with colorful ribbons as part of preparation for a befitting Christmas. The dream was almost aborted by midnight robbers who, in the wee hours, burgled the church and went with the entire music instruments.

"Not a single item was left. The only microphone spared by their filthy hands was the one kept in daddy’s office.

"I guess it was spared due to oversight. Every other item connected to music was taken away, though no cash was stolen because as a rule, we don’t keep cash in premises”, he said.

Asked if the musical fiesta had been put on hold because of the incident, he answered in the negative.

According to him, the night of carols will still hold but the choir will sing with their natural voices, adding that aborting it would be like succumbing to the acts of the devil.

In a related development, the Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, Mr. Mohammed Abdulkadir has expressed concern over rampant cases of theft in Sokoto, the state capital and its environs.

Abdulkadir said this in Sokoto in his message at the End of Year Dinner and Awards Night organised by the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (CONSD), Sokoto State Chapter. Abdulkadir, who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Mr. Anene Innocent, said the emerging trend of criminality is prevalent around the Automated Teller Machines of some banks, especially at nights.

He said customers park their vehicles with the intention of transacting business only to be shocked that the car is gone.

”It is a very worrisome situation and the command will not relent in its efforts to contain the obnoxious situation,”Abdulkadir said, urging the banks to boost security around their premises, and called on the residents to be more proactive and security conscious.