A tragic incident took place yesterday as
Youths of Obubo community in Anambra State attacked a Priest, Rev. Father
Fidelis Ifeanyichukwu Ugozo of the St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Ugbenu,
Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, beating him to a state of coma.
The rampaging youths led by
their leader, Gabriel Ikegbunam are said to be Idol worshipers.
According to Anambra
Broadcasting Service, (ABS),the priest and some of his followers were carrying
out a rosary procession around some of the villages when they were stopped by
one of the youth leaders in the village, Gabriel Ikegbunam, who felt the clergy
man and his followers were out to burn down their deity.
Mr.
Ikegbunem insisted that they will not enter his village, and when they
overpowered him, he started making contacts, calling some youths from the
village to attack the priest and others who were mainly women and children.
The Catholic priest
who was severely beaten and stabbed in the face was rushed to an undisclosed
hospital in Ebenebe after the attack but was later transferred to St. Joseph’s
hospital, Adazi Ani by the Ebenebe Deanery Chaplain.
A former catechist at
St. Raphael’s parish Ugbenu, Cletus Nwankwo, said Obubo village is known
for adulterous acts, adding that the youths suspected that the Rosary
procession was aimed at destroying their deity shrine.
“They moved from
Agueke village to Obiagu and decided to branch at Obubo before Ikegbunam
blocked them and in the process, he called some of them and told them that
Catholics are coming to burn their shrine. Soon the youths trooped out,
wielding dangerous weapons such as axe, gun and machetes.
“They
grabbed the Blessed Sacrament from our Parish Priest, hit it on the floor and
used the Monstrance to hit our Parish priest on his hand before stabbing him on
the face and other parts of the body” he said.
The Traditional ruler
of Ugbenu town, Igwe Lawrence Egwuonu, while speaking to newsmen said his wife,
Lolo Egwuonwu was also beaten by the youths, stating that Gabriel Ikegbunam,
Israel Egwu and two others stormed his palace before the incident occurred to
complain that their shrine and other sacred symbols were burnt by Christians.
“After investigation,
I discovered that they were all liars. None of their shrines were burnt and I
can defend it anywhere.
“It was Ikegbunam
that incited others to attack the priest and other Christians.
“Their greatest
mistake was touching the priest and destroying the Blessed Sacrament. It is a
sacrilege and they will pay for it,” he said.
Two amongst the
rampaging youths, Anthony Anigbogu and Humphrey Ekwenye, have been reprimanded
and are currently in the custody of the State CID, Awka, while other
accomplices are still at large.
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