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The Oracle Today Wednesday August 15, 2018
FEATURE
Ozubulu remembers slain worshippers, demands justice
From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Ozubulu
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YEAR ago, Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State had a sour taste of massacre when 13 people lost their lives as assassins attacked St. Philip’s Catholic Church, shattered the peace of the early morning mass of 6 August. A memorial service was held Monday in remembrance of the dead. The mass, which was held at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, venue of the shooting that remains unresolved, attracted the presence of Ozubulu indigenes and their friends.
Tears flowed freely. Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso, who was the officiating priest on the day of the attack, conducted the memorial service. In his sermon, the parish priest recounted the ugly incident, saying that God had shown the people love since then. “We were reciting ‘I believe in one God’, which the congregation chorused amen and immediately I introduced the prayer of the faithful, some huge sounds like volcanic eruption filled the church. Initially, there was total silence and confusion, but suddenly, pandemonium set in,” he recalled. “At first I thought I was in a dream, but it was real. There were sporadic shootings inside the church and people started running in different directions. In fact, satanic agents and enemies of Christ entered the church for the purpose of killing innocent children of God. What were left behind were pools of blood of fellow human beings inside the church. “For months, our parish became a hot zone as people from all parts of the world came to see the atrocity committed in our community. “I am deeply touched by God’s care and love this one year, as He has shown us love through the diocese and beyond the shores of Nigeria.” He commended the parishioners for putting the incident behind them, noting that it never discouraged them from attending masses and worshipping God. While calling on people to love one another and pray that what happened last year should not repeat itself, he commended the police and voluntary agencies that came to the aid of the wounded and the dead by conveying them to hospital and the mortuaries until the burial service that later took place. He also thanked the Anambra State Government and society at large for sympathising with the people in their time of grief and consoled the families that lost their loved ones and the injured.
Among those in attendance at the memorial was South African-based businessman, Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, the suspected target of the attackers. His father was among those shot. He died a day after in hospital. Nollywood personalities Chief Pete Edochie, Chinyere Wilfred, Bob Manuel Udokwu,
Rita Edochie, also attended. Some indigenes of the community who spoke to The Oracle Today regretted that one year after the incident nobody has been convicted for the incident. Vin Onyekwelu, an ex British police officer who spoke to The Oracle Today said August 6, 2017 would remain a black day in
the annals of Ozubulu. “As we mourn our brothers and sisters that passed on, it is regrettable that justice has not been delivered. Today love, peace and unity remain with us because we won’t allow anyone to take that away from us but it pertinent for justice to take place so as to stop deter others”
While speaking on Aloysius Ikegwuonu, he described him as a man loved by his people with no criminal records. He said that it is regrettable that certain people have tried to cast negative aspersions on certain individuals, making successful people to have question marks. “Some people have been arrested as regards this issue and we will continue to insist on prosecution and penalties to be dished out. Not just because of the lives that were cut short in the most gruesome manner inside a sacred place of worship by merciless killers, but also because, on that fateful day, the sleepy farming community was conspicuously placed on the world map for a very wrong reason.” Another indigene, Leo Onyeka said that for years to come, at the mention of Ozubulu, images of the blood stained floor of Saint Philip’s Catholic Church would immediately come to mind. We demand justice for them and security agencies must rise up to ensure justice in this case.” Chinedu Akpunonu (44), Vincent Ike (57), Chukwudi Ugwu (30) and Onyebuchi Mbanefo (46), are on trial for the Ozubulu incident on 37-count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder. Three other suspects are still at large. However, the case took a new dimension, as the matter was later administratively transferred from Nnewi High Court to Awka High Court following heightened tension over security and the increasing number of people who turned out during court sittings on the matter.