Armed robbers attack Jesuit community at Ivory Coast theology school

Apr 20, 2011

WORLD

By Catholic News Service

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (CNS) -- Armed robbers attacked the faculty of a Jesuit-run theology school in the Ivorian capital, injuring one person and ransacking the private rooms of individual priests.

Jesuit Father Michael Lewis, president of the Superiors of Africa and Madagascar for the Jesuits, said in an email to Catholic News Service that the robbers stormed the Institute of Theology of the Company of Jesus April 17 as the priests were preparing for dinner.

Deacon Herve-Noel Kanziama was beaten and physically abused during the incident, Father Lewis reported.

Students were not at the school at the time, having been sent out of the country about two months ago as fighting intensified between army forces and militia supporting President-elect Alassane Ouattara and security personnel and mercenaries loyal to outgoing President Laurent Gbagbo. Ouattara was declared the winner of elections in November, but Gbagbo refused to leave office.

French and U.N. forces on the ground in Abidjan arrested Gbagbo April 11 after an assault on his residence in Abidjan.

The robbers entered school grounds by jumping over a security wall and quickly disarmed the guards on duty, Father Lewis wrote. The Jesuits at the school reported that the robbers stole everything of value, including computers, cellphones, a television and personal possessions.

Two Jesuits, including Father Victor Adangba, rector, were forced to hand over a small amount of cash kept in a safe while the bandits held the other priests on the ground at gunpoint, Father Lewis said.

Shots were fired at times during the ordeal, but no injuries were reported from the arms fire, he said.

Father Lewis indicated the attack was not unexpected because political unrest continues around the country.

"They (Jesuits) are obviously very traumatized and are looking for ways to protect themselves and others around them," he said. "The situation in the Ivory Coast is still very fluid and unstable and there is considerable lawlessness in many parts of the country."
Armed robbers attack Jesuit community at Ivory Coast theology school

Source: http://www.iobserve.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=827&cntnt01returnid=61

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'Story' as it appeared on http://www.sjweb.info/news/index.cfm?Tab=1&PubLang=1 , a jesuit media organ.


Military attack Jesuit Community Abidjan

(18-Apr-2011) On Sunday evening April 17th, 2011 the Jesuit Formation Centre of Abidjan (Ivory Coast) has been attacked by 15 to 20 well armed military. The five formators who were present have been treathened at guns points, verbally abused, insulted and being screamed. Some have been beaten. Pc’s, portable phones, personal belongings and documents and the money of the safe have been taken away. According to the attackers the church had supported Gbagbo, burned mosques and killed their brothers and they were accused to hide weapons.
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