Roman Catholic Priest escapes Assassination in Anambra, Stabbed to Coma, Stripped Naked----50 Church members sustained injuries

www.odogwublog.com reports that a Roman Catholic Priest and Parish Priest of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, Ugbenu, Rev. Father Fidelis Ifeanyichukwu Ugozo was yesterday attacked at Obubo village, Ugbenu in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra state by irate youths suspected to be idol worshippers from the area.

The youths were said to have beaten the priest to pulp, tour his humeral veil to shreds and stabbed him on the face among other Christians who also sustained various degrees of injuries during their monthly Rosary procession.

According to an eye witness report, the priest was carrying the ‘Blessed Sacrament’ in procession with his parishioners going round some villages in the community when they were intercepted by one Mr. Gabriel Ikegbunam who is now at large.

The said Mr Ikegbunem insisted that they will not enter his village, 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 the Spiritual Director of Amen and Amen Ministry, Omor in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State was first rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Ebenebe before being transferred to St. Josehp’s hospital, Adazi Ani by the Ebenebe Deanery Chaplain.

A former Catechist in St. Raphael’s parish Ugbenu, Chief Cletus Nwankwo told our reporter that 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 Mr. Ikegbunam blocked them and on the process, he called some of them and told them that Catholics are coming to burn their shrine. Sooner than later, the youths trooped out, wielding dangerous weapons such as axe, gun and machetes.
“They grabbed the Blessed Sacrament from our parish priest, heat it on the floor and used the Monstrance to heat our Parish priest on his hand before stabbing him on the face and other parts of the body” he said.

Giving his own angle to the story, 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, Isreal Egwu and two others stormed his palace before the incident occurred to complain that their shrine and other sacred symbols were burnt  by christians.

“On a close investigation” he said, “I discovered that they were all liars. None of their shrines were burnt and I can defend it anywhere. It was Mr. 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.

As at the time of filling this report, two of the culprits, Mr. Anthony Anigbogu and Humphrey Ekwenye have been arrested by the Police and are now cooling off at the State CID, Awka while others: Moses Ekwenye, their gang leader, Mr. Gabriel Ikegbunam, Amechi Onuorah, popularly known as Dangote, Sunday Okoye and Toochukwu Okoye are still on the run.

Other suspects still at large include: Sunday Innocent, Amaechi Anozie, Oge Nnakee, Lambart Okoye, Ejike Okafor and Omenankiti Uba.

The Chief Priest of ‘Ofufe’ Deity, Mr. Omenankiti Uba could not be reached for comments but one of his allies who pledged anonymity said they were protecting their Ofufe Deity since the Catholic priest is in the habit of carrying and destroying other deities in the community.