File photo used only for illustrative purpose
The Catholic priest, identified as Rev. Father Fidelis
Ifeanyichukwu Ugozo, has been given the most embarrasing moments of his
life.
Fr. Ugozu, a Priest at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Ugbenu,
Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, was on Monday
attacked at Obubo village located in Ugbenu by irate youths suspected to
be idol worshippers from the area.
According to News Express Nigeria, the priest was attacked and
beaten to a pulp by the irate youths who tore his humeral veil to shreds
and stabbed him and other Christians who also sustained various degrees
of injuries while performing their monthly Rosary procession.
According to an eye witness report, the priest was carrying the ‘Blessed Sacrament’
in procession going round some villages in the community when they were
stopped by one Mr. Gabriel Ikegbunam who is now at large.
Mr. Ikegbunem insisted that they will not enter his village named
Obubo 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.
Father Ugozo, who is also the Spiritual Director of Amen and Amen
Ministry, Omor in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state was
first rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Ebenebe but because of his
comatose state, he was transferred to St. Joseph’s hospital, Adazi Ani
by the Ebenebe Deanery Chaplain.
According to a former Catechist at St. Raphael’s parish Ugbenu,
Chief Cletus Nwankwo, Obubo village is known in Ugbenu town 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.
On his part, the Traditional Ruler of Ugbenu town, HRM, Igwe
Lawrence Egwuonu, whose wife, Lolo Egwuonwu was also battered by the
youths, said that Mr. 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.
There greatest mistake was touching the priest and destroying the
Blessed Sacrament. It is a sacrilege and they will pay for it,” he said.
The two culprits, Mr. Anthony Anigbogu and Humphrey Ekwenye have
been arrested by the Police and are now cooling off at the State CID,
Awka, while other accomplices, Moses Ekwenye, their leader, Ikegbunam,
Amechi Onuorah, popularly known as Dangote, Sunday Okoye and Toochukwu
Okoye are still at large.
Other suspects still at large include Sunday Innocent, Amaechi
Anozie, Oge Nnakee, Lambert Okoye, Ejike Okafor and Omenankiti Uba who
is the Chief Priest of Ofufe deity.
Although Uba could not be reached for comments, one of his allies
who pledged anonymity said they were protecting their deity since the
Catholic Priest is in the habit of carrying and destroying deities in
the community
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