An innocuous attempt by some Catholic reverend sisters to render spiritual cover to some depraved communities in Delta State has landed them in trouble.
The Catholic nuns were reportedly ambushed and raped by gun-toting men, as they approached the community at night fall to evangelise and pray for the sick in the area.
Although the sisters are said to have been too scared to report the matter to the police, sources close to the Divisional Police Station in Aniocha South LGA, said the police have however begun a manhunt for the rapists.
It was also learnt that the victims, who were not familiar with the terrain, where recently posted to the Issele-Uku Catholic Church to strengthen its spiritual coverage of the area.
Although the incident is being discussed in low tones, neither the church nor the victims are willing to take action against the suspected rapists.
The victims, our correspondent learnt, had decided to hand over their fate to the hands of the Almighty God, whom they strongly believe will expose the culprits in accordance with Biblical injunctions.
A reverend sister in the church simply identified as Fidelia, said she was not aware of the incident and could not comment on what she did not know.
But a native of the area, who did not want to be quoted, said that they had heard of the case but wondered why the victims were not bold enough to table a formal report to the police and the community for necessary actions.
Police Spokesman for Delta State, Mr. Charles Muka, said that although they had reports of rape and armed robbery in the area, they were yet to be briefed on the sisters’ plight
Muka said that they command had nevertheless begun moves to track the hoodlums, who had been terrorising unsuspecting persons in the community.
Residents and those passing through of Issele-Uku where the Catholic Church is situated, have often been molested by miscreants, who also dispossess them of their valuables.
Apart from the rape of the sisters, no there were reports that no fewer than 20 persons, many of them farmers, have come under attack by the hoodlums in the Issele-Uku community lately.
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