2 Catholic priests escape death as fire guts parish house in Anambra

Armed men believed to be local vigilance group members attached to Our Lady’s Industrial Centre, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, at the early hours, yesterday, set ablaze the house of the parish priest in-charge of Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Reverend Father Martin Onukwuba and the boys’ quarters within the Industrial premises.

Speaking to  the Nigerian Tribune, Reverend Father Onukwuba said that himself and the resident priest, Reverend Father Ben Oguejiofor, escaped death by the whiskers, hinting that some of the laity that witnessed the attack did not know how both priests escaped.

He expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be brought to justice no matter how highly placed.

In the words of the parish priest,  “I don’t know when we will be back to the house again because the destruction is too  much. We can’t live here for now.”

On the arrest made by the police,  he said  “those hoodlums who attacked us were yet to be arrested, those arrested were mere workers at the bakery;  now that our lawyer has taken up the matter there is no cause for alarm.”

The counsel to the church,  Mr C.J.  Asiegbu pointed accusing finger at the proprietress and  management of the Industrial Centre, who he disclosed, were in court with the church prior to the incident, over ownership of the church premises.

Also speaking, Reverend Father Oguejiofor who scaled the fence when the attackers came calling,  told the members of the church  while being flanked by the armed men, to take heart and to decline further comments as Father Onukwuba held brief for both of them.

Properties estimated at  millions of naira were destroyed, while   salvaged  items were seen being transferred to another parish when  the Nigerian Tribune  visited the premises.

Items burnt  during the incident included electrical appliances, chairs, tables, books, cooking utensils, plates, clothes, pictures, clocks, fathers’ house and boys’ quartersContacted on the incident, the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr Abdul Yusurf confirmed the incident and arrest of some suspects but declined further comments.
TRIBUNE