The Anglican Province of Owerri, Imo State, has said that it
would engage the police to find out why it desecrated the church while
enforcing the arrest of Uche Nwosu at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obieri
in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state on Monday during a
thanksgiving service.
The church said that while it supports the arrest of
individuals who committed crimes no matter how highly placed they are, the
invasion of a church of worship by security operatives while a service was on
going was unacceptable.
The Archbishop of the province, Most Rev Dr David O. C
Onuoha, in a statement on Monday, said that the shooting of bullets and
dispersing of worshippers had never been witnessed in the over 160 years of the
existence of the church in the state.
The statement read, “It was a black Sunday yesterday
December 26, 2021, as armed men in uniform invaded St. Peter’s Anglican Church
Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State
and roundly desecrated God’s sanctuary. The officiating priest had barely
concluded the celebration and administration of the Holy Eucharist, ready for
the end of year thanksgiving, when armed men stormed the church. The Nigerian
Police later explained that it was for the purpose of effecting an arrest.
“Much as we are not concerned or interested in the reason
for this invasion, which is unprecedented in the more than 160 years history of
the church in this state, we are gravely worried and disturbed that worshippers
were greatly frightened, worried, confused and completely disorganised by the
presence of heavily armed security operatives in the church service thereby
disrupting the worship of God’s people.
“That the police jumped inside the church in a gestapo style
when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly
condemnable. We are at a great loss why the police decided to throw caution to
the winds and completely ignore internationally acclaimed rules of engagement
and civility in this matter.
“The sporadic
gunshots outside the church building sent worshippers scampering in different
directions, signaling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.
“While the church is in support of and have always been
praying for the success of our security personnel in the daunting task and
challenge of securing lives and property in our dear state and every effort at
bringing the perpetrators/sponsors of this crime against humanity to book no
matter how highly placed, we warn that such acts as the one in issue are
capable of worsening the security challenges we are currently facing.
“The Church will in the next few days engage the Nigerian
Police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind this dastardly act
and how to avoid a repeat occurrence. While this process is on, we urge all
Christians to continue in prayers for God’s mercy on all of us and peace in our
land.”
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