By Patrick Egwu & Ifunanya
Ozougwu, Enugu
Fulani Herdsmen yesterday attacked three Catholic priests along
Obimo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government area of Enugu State while returning from
Nsukka to Onitsha and Nnewi respectively after a condolence visit to Rev Fr
Uchenna Ezeh of Nsukka Diocese who lost his mother.
Orient Daily gathered that the priests Rev Fr Chetanna Jude
Chukwuneke, Fr Emmanuel Dim and Fr Prof Ezeokana were in a car passing along
Obimo in Uzo-Uwani when the suspected herdsmen emerged from a bush in a bad
spot of the road, and attacked them.
Fr Chukwuenke was shot in the head but managed to escape with his
injuries alongside Fr Ezeokana who was also injured in the process.
While Fr Chukwuenke and Fr Prof Ezeokana escaped, Fr Emmanuel Dim
was abducted and whisked to an unknown destination and subsequently a ransom of
N2.5 million was demanded by his abductors before he is released.
In a release, the Director of Communications at the Nnewi Catholic
Diocese, Rev. Fr. Hygi Aghaulor confirmed that the kidnappers of Rev. Fr. Dim -
the Rector of Fr. Tansi Major Seminary in Onitsha, Anambra, have demanded a
ransom for his release.
Aghaulor confirmed that Dim was kidnapped around 7 p.m while the
three catholic priests were returning from Nsukka to Onitsha and Nnewi.
Also, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) condemned
the attacks and has directed that no ransom be paid.
Aghaulor requested that Nigerians join hands to pray the priest's
release.
“We call on people of goodwill to continue to pray for the
immediate release of the Vincentian priest. We are tempted to wonder if Nigeria
is on the verge of collapse. All over the country, women are being raped and
intimidated, innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered,’’ Aghaulor said.
Similarly, a human rights group,
the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), termed the
attack "failure of leadership" in the Southeast states.
The President of the Group, Barr Olu Omotayo said "The
worsening security situation in Enugu State and Southeast states becomes
worrisome due to the inactivity of the governors of the various southeast
states who are handling this security challenge with kid gloves.
We support the position of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi who
through Rev Fr. Aghaulor maintained that the southeast governors are doing
nothing to protect the people they are governing".
"The position of the Catholic Diocese Nnewi supported our
position that Enugu State and sister states in the zone are treating this
urgent security matter as a political matter.
We had before now maintained that until the herdsmen arrested in
connection with previous attacks in Enugu state are charged to court, these
attacks will continue".
"We submit that the trial of the arrested suspects of
previous attacks in Enugu state will serve as deterrent to others, hence we
instituted the Suit No. FHC/EN/CS/106/2016, at the Federal High Court Enugu
against the Attorney General of Enugu State to perform his constitutional duty
and charge the 5 suspects of Nimbo Killings to court," he maintained.
However, the duo are currently receiving treatment at an
undisclosed hospital.
In a reaction, Fr Chukwuneke confirmed the incident, saying that
God saved him from the clutches of death.
He said: "Dear friends, thank you so much for your
solidarity, goodwill messages, calls and most importantly your prayers. I am
very much stable, hale and hearty. Our Lord did the greatest miracle for me: I
was shot in the
head through the side window of the driverside by Fulani hoodlums
along Obimo in Uzo-Uwani, near Nimbo both in Enugu state.
The pellets stopped few inches to my brain/skull, and left orbit
and ear. It could have been the end but God said it is not yet time.
However, I still have some pellets in my face. Finally, continue
to pray for Fr Emmanuel Dim who was abducted. Also Fr Prof Ezeokana is
recovering from burns."
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Enugu
state police command, SP Ebere Amarizu, said the identity of the gun men is yet
to be established but claimed that the kidnapped Rev Fr has regained his
freedom.
According to him, "The Enugu state command of the Nigeria
Police Force through its operatives has commenced a full scale investigation
into the incident of attack of catholic priests
by yet to be identified gun men on 27/9/16 along Akachele village of
Obimo in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu state with a view to establishing those behind the
dastardly act and their identities so that they can be brought to book".
"It was however gathered that the gun men had allegedly
attacked the three priests injuring two and abducted one to an unknown
destination. The injured priests were later taken to hospitals for medical
attention where they are responding to treatment.However,the abducted priest
has regained his freedom.
Members of the public are advised to go about their normal lawful
business as the state command working in partnership with relevant
stakeholders, sister security agencies as well as the state government are poised towards ensuring a functional and
effective security of lives and property in the state", the statement
read.
This is not the first time that Uzo-Uwani will be experiencing
such attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen. It would be recalled that on the
25th of April 2016, some suspected armed Fulani herdsmen invaded the town of
Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani leading to the death of over 50 persons and
properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
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