One Killed As Masquerades Attack Church In Anambra State (Photo)

A tragic incident has led to the death of a church member after masquerades invaded a church to disrupt service in Anambra state. 

The scene of the incident where masquerades invaded a church in Anambra state

 

The Anambra Police Command says it has arrested three masquerades for allegedly  disrupting a church programme on Friday night at Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, according to a report by News Agency of Nigeria.

 

Also speaking to Odogwublog on the incident, Francis Okoye, the P.A of the Spiritual Director of the church Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, revealed that a catholic priest, Rev Father Henry Nnajiofor, a seminarian and 28 others were injured during the attack.

 

He added that over 100 worshipers were flogged, describing the incident as a planned and deliberate act to intimidate Christians coming to worship God at the ground.

 

A statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs  Nkeiruka Nwode on Saturday in Awka revealed that the suspects attacked worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke.

 

“Three masquerades have been arrested in connection with the church attack. We have commenced investigation into the cause of the incident and would notify you when concluded,” Nwode said.

 

It was gathered that the masquerades were celebrating a festival known as “Uzo Iyi” festival when the sad incident happened.

 

Nwode, however, denied that the masquerades attacked the police officers from Special Anti Robbery Squad, who responded to calls on the breach of peace.

 

NAN further gathered that  about 10  masquerades  invaded the church, assaulted the worshipers and  attempted to whisk away the spiritual director of the centre, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Obinna, but for the quick response of the police.

 

A witness said the leadership of the church called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to help their internal security to protect worshipers.

 

“On arrival, the operatives arrested three masquerades, who were involved in the attack, but their colleagues attempted to stop them from taking the arrested masquerades away, prompting SARS operatives to shoot sporadically into the air before taking them away,” the source said

 

The Personal Assistant to the spiritual director of the centre, Mr Francis Okoye, told journalists that a Catholic Priest, Rev Fr. Henry Nnajiofor, a seminarian and 28 others were injured during the attack on the worshipers.

 

“The normal masquerade activities in Uke, to the best of my knowledge, ends by 6 p.m but as at 8 p.m on Friday, the masquerades were still parading at the entrance route of Uke Adoration ground, extorting money from our members and robbing others in the guise of masquerade festival.

 

“As at 8.30 p.m, we started receiving information that some masquerades were attacking our members, flogging them and inflicting injuries.

 

“They flogged some of them, stabbed some with their weapons including machetes, while others were robbed of their mobile phones and other valuables.

 

“We quickly contacted the SARS office to assist our Adoration security team, who could not handle the situation at that point in time.

 

“When SARS arrived an hour later, they arrested two masquerades but on their way back, the youths blocked the road and insisted that the masquerades must be released; that was when SARS officials fired shots in the air to disperse them.

 

“When SARS left, they re-grouped  and this time came in their numbers to the Adoration premises, beating everybody including the elderly, the sick and pregnant women.

 

“Our Adoration youths, in defence, pursued them and arrested one other masquerade, who stayed in the Adoration ground with us until this morning when we handed him over to the officials of the Nigerian Army, who came to our rescue.”