The police in the Eastern Cape have officially confirmed the incident whereby armed robbers stormed a church and robbed congregants in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.

According to official information from the police, the incident happened around 6:30pm last night at Gallant Street, Greenfields, Booysens Park, where five suspects targeted congregants.

“The incident occurred on 05 May 2025 at approximately 18:30 when five armed and masked men stormed the church and robbed around 50 congregants of their cellphones and other valuables.

“The suspects fled in the church priest’s white Toyota RAV4, which was later found abandoned in Chatty 5, Chatty. The vehicle has been taken for forensic analysis,” the police said in a statement.

No injuries were sustained by any members of the church.

They urged anyone with information to contact Detective Constable Enrique Louw at 071 570 0628 (SAPS Chatty) or Crime Stop anonymously at 08600 10111.

Three weeks ago, the city of Gqeberha was in the news when a US missionary, Josh Sullivan was kidnapped for ransom.

He was later freed when the police engaged in a deadly shootout with his kidnappers.

That earned the police a pat on the back from the US government.