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Tag: St. Philip’s Catholic Church

  • Ozubulu church re-opens a week after gunmen attack

    Ozubulu church re-opens a week after gunmen attack

    Normal church services were held at St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra, a week after gunmen killed  worshipers during early morning service.

    The church was sealed after Aug. 6 massacre which claimed 11 people and 18 others sustaining various degrees of injury.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who attended the church service, reports that there was an initial low turn-out of parishioners but the attendance later picked up.

    NAN reports that the service was attended  by officials of the state government led by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu.

    Also, present at the Mass was Aloysius Ikegwuonu, popularly called ‘Bishop” and one of the chieftains of the village, who was alleged to have been the target of the Aug 6 attack.

    IIkegwuonu, who lost his father in the attack, refused to talk to newsmen, but one of his aides said his principal would talk at appropriate time.

    Security operatives were seen in and around the church wielding arms.

    In his homily, Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso, the Parish Priest, encouraged parishioners not to be deterred by Aug 6 attack, adding that “God is still on the throne”.

    Ownuaso said that the slain parishioners were at the right hand of the Almighty.

    Some Parishioners told NAN that many of them were yet to overcome the shock of the invasion.

    Mr Jude Okoye, a parishioner, said he forced himself to attend church service because of his deep religious understanding that a Christian believer must experience persecution to make to heaven.

    NAN recalled that a delegation of the federal government led by Minister Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, visited the place on Saturday Aug.12 to condole with the state.

  • FG to beef up security in worship centres – Ngige

    FG to beef up security in worship centres – Ngige

    The Federal Government says it will come up with security plans that will guarantee the safety of lives and property in worship centres across the country.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister for Labour and Employment, said this in Amakwa, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo council when he led a delegation to commiserate with the people and government of Anambra on Saturday.

    The delegation was led to St. Philips Catholic Church by Dr Nkem Okeke, Deputy Governor of Anambra and Most Rev. Dr Hillary Okeke, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese.

    Ngige said the Federal Government would cooperate with Anambra to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

    The minister, who described the attack as heinous, wicked and sacrilegious, said the delegation would report back to the presidency.

    He said the Federal Government would also work out a security framework that would protect worshipers anywhere in the country.

    Ngige, who was briefed by the Bishop and Parish Priest of the church, Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso, said efforts would be made to forestall future recurrence.

    In his remarks, the deputy governor said the church was praying for the repentance of the perpetrators.

    He said government and the security agencies could go ahead with the hunt for the culprits, but as Christians, the diocese was praying that the masterminds should change their ways.

    He called for prayers and support for the victims either directly to the affected families or through the church through its Victims’ Support Fund.

    Other members of the delegation included the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of State for Environment, Mr Ibrahim Jubrin.

  • Anambra killing, barbaric, shocking –  Bayelsa govt

    Anambra killing, barbaric, shocking –  Bayelsa govt

    The Bayelsa State Government, on Tuesday, condemned the shooting incident at St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, in Anambra State, describing it as barbaric and shocking.

    In a condolence message signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, the government said the incident was most disheartening.

    The statement said: “We condemn in very strong terms the killing of innocent worshippers last Sunday morning at the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State”.

    “We condole with Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, the families of the dead, the entire Christian community as well as the Government and people of the state.

    “While, commending the Anambra State Government and Police for the steps so far taken to bring the perpetrators to book, we call for greater vigilance on the part of the law enforcement agencies to check future occurrences”.

  • Anambra church killing: Fish out perpetrators – NLC, UPP urges Govt

    Anambra church killing: Fish out perpetrators – NLC, UPP urges Govt

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the United Progressive Party (UPP) wants the government to bring to book those behind Sunday Morning killing of innocent worshiper at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the assistants must be identified and apprehended, describing the incident as shocking, bizarre and reprehensible.

    Wabba said: “Places of worship quite often in decent conflicts are sanctuaries. What makes this attack more confounding is the fact that Ozubulu is far removed from any known theatre of conflict at the moment and has had little or no history of violent conflict.

    “Whatever may have been the situation, this attack represents a descent into the pit of hell. It is animalistic, cowardly and shameful and all necessary steps should immediately be taken by security forces to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the victims, the Catholic Church, Governor Willie Obiano and the people of Anambra State. We urge our security agencies to step up security in and around places of worship. We similarly urge  worshippers to take the initiative of securing their premises.”

    On his part, National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, Chekwas Okorie said the party received with shock the news of the killing, describing it  as cowardly, detestable and abominable, adding that the  murder of these Catholic faithfuls inside the Church while worshipping the Almighty God was outrageous, a sacrilege and sadism of the worst order.

    He said “We are grief-stricken. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this man’s inhumanity against man. We pray that the sovereign Lord will comfort and strengthen them in this period of grief. We are consoled that they died in the Lord and have become martyrs of the Christian faith.

    “We encourage the Catholic faithful, indeed, all Christians in Ozubulu to remain prayerful, courageous and resolute in their service to God and humanity assured that their labour in the vineyard of the Lord will not be in vain.

    “We also commiserate with the leadership of Saint Philip’s Catholic Church, the Government and people of Anambra State and pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the loss of these loved ones. We equally pray for the speedy recovery of those wounded in this senseless attack.

    “We urge security agents to fish out the assailants and their sponsors and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to those who would contemplate this heinous crime against fellow compatriots. This madness must stop.”

  • Islamic group condemns killing of worshipers in Anambra

    Islamic group condemns killing of worshipers in Anambra

    The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria on Monday condemned in strong terms the Sunday’s killings in St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, near Nnewi, Anambra.

    A gunman stormed the church and killed at least eight worshipers and injured 18 people.

    The group made the condemnation in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi.

    Abdullahi described the perpetrators as dare-devil murderers who stormed Ozubulu Catholic Church in Anambra State and killed scores of people during an early-morning mass.

    “This is the hand work of terrorists within the community who were reportedly living abroad but came home for what only God knows.

    “The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria condemns in strong terms this sacrilegious and terrible act.

    “This crime must be properly investigated and culprits should be urgently arrested before they escape from the community.’’

    According to Abdullahi, it is commendable that the Police in Anambra State have useful information on the background to the crime as narrated by the Anambra State Commissioner of Police.

    “This information should be properly processed to give a lasting solution to addressing acts of terrorism of this nature which must not go unpunished.

    “Meanwhile, the elites in our midst sending their children and wards abroad to study, must examine the negative aspects of their action on their children.

    “Some of which include bad culture of killing innocent people with reckless abandon, joining irresponsible clubs where crimes are perpetrated to revenge certain acts, use of dangerous drugs and various acts of terrorism.’’

    The national coordinator said that wealth should be channeled to positive ventures such as teaching the children the way of God and worshipping of Him whole-heartedly.

    According to him, children should acquire the training they are given on how to imbibe and practice good character in addition to educational pursuit.

    “All these could be achieved here in Nigeria easily.

    “Parents and guardians living in the country should as well discourage their children from watching dangerous movies which serves as training ground from breeding criminally-minded children,’’ Abdullahi said.

  • Anambra Massacre: Bring perpetrators to justice, Saraki, Ekweremadu urge police

    Anambra Massacre: Bring perpetrators to justice, Saraki, Ekweremadu urge police

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has expressed sadness over the killing of some worshipers at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra, on Sunday.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, also condemned the tragedy and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

    Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the killing of worshippers was evil.

    He called on security operatives to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.

    “Today, my heart goes out to Nigeria’s Christian community, Gov. Willy Obiano, the people of Anambra and the families of the victims and the survivors of this terrible massacre.

    “This brutal act of attacking innocent and unsuspecting worshippers represents the purest kind of evil.

    “Our security forces must not stop until everyone involved in the orchestration and execution of today’s massacre in St. Philip’s Catholic Church is brought to book by the strong arm of justice.

    “The Senate will continue to offer assistance in this endeavour because today, all of us as Nigerians have been attacked by this senseless act committed by evil people,” he said.

    Saraki further urged security agencies in the country to step up their intelligence activities to prevent activities of criminals.

    He also called on security agencies to unravel any crime committed against Nigerians by undesirable elements in the society.