Story: Della Russel Ocloo in Tema, Michael Donkor in Accra
A spectacle of blood, death and injuries marred an evening of prayers at the Tema Community 8 branch of the Lighthouse Chapel International on Wednesday night, when five suspected armed robbers disguised themselves as worshippers to execute a murderous plan.
Moments after the service had ended, the gunmen exploded in a hail of gunfire, targeting members of the congregation who had moved to their vehicles, as well as a small group then meeting over the evening’s offertory.
In the process, the officiating pastor, Stephen Kwesi Baidoo, was critically injured in the left rib and his fingers while one of the gunmen was killed on the spot and another injured from bullets fired by members of a patrol team which responded swiftly to a distress call from a church member.
Doctors at the 37 Military Hospital confirmed that 13 pellets have been removed from the body of Pastor Baidoo and still working to remove about 22 more still lodging in him.
From his hospital bed at the hospital, Pastor Baidoo yesterday narrated his ordeal to the Daily Graphic, confirming that the incident occurred at about 10.p.m. on Wednesday after the church had closed from its evening service and four of the pastors, including himself, were about to move their cars at the car park of the church.
He said as soon as he sat in his car he saw a group of young men with guns and other offensive weapons attacking two of the female pastors who were about to sit in their cars.
Pastor Baidoo said sensing danger he immediately called the police patrol team and then got down from his car to rescue the lady pastors.
He said the gang immediately opened fire on him which sent him to the ground.
Pastor Baidoo said it was at that moment that the police patrol team got to the scene and began firing back at the gang while he was rushed to hospital.
Another pastor, who doubled as the spokesperson for the church, Emmanuel Mefful, said one of the lady pastors whose car keys the armed robbers demanded sustained bruises on her body because she was dragged on the ground.
He said a search on the deceased robber revealed a locally manufactured pistol, five live cartridges including a used one and a roll of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
A tour of the scene by the Daily Graphic at about 7:30a.m. yesterday revealed widespread blood stains at the forecourt of the church while residents converged in groups discussing the occurrence.
The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, also told the Graphic that the robbers attacked the worshippers, some of whom had convened for a short meeting after the service at about 10p.m., and also shot Pastor Baidoo.
“The deceased robber engaged a police patrol team which was called to the scene for assistance in a gun battle leading to his death.”
ACP Gyening said a thorough investigation was being conducted into the incident and appealed to residents, as well as eyewitnesses, to volunteer information that could lead to the arrest of the accomplices of the deceased robber.
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