The Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine T. Ukwuoma has in strong terms, condemned the assault by the police operatives on St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre LGA in Imo State.
The police had on Sunday, 26 December, 2021 raided the church during a religious service, and violently carried out some arrests.
The prelate, in a press release issued on 27 December, 2021 decried the apparent desecration of the sanctity of a place of worship and called on security operatives to respect the sanctity of the House of Worship.
The release read in part: “While no one is above the law, the violent way the arrest was carried out by state security operatives in a House of Worship and during a religious service with hundreds or thousands of participants in the congregation, leaves much to be desired to say the least or outrightly condemned.”
The Bishop further stated, “We therefore call on the relevant authorities and the general public to take steps to prevent a repeat of this breach of the constitution, disruption of public order and desecration of a constitutionally protected place of worship.”
The shepherd of Orlu concluded that “the Church is and must remain a House of Prayer, a sanctuary for all, where we go to commune with God and receive His blessings, and should therefore be shielded from any unruly or belligerent behaviour.”
By Rachel Kogi, CSN Abuja