Catholic
Churches in Enugu State have come under attacks from vandals who are destroying
statues in and around premises of the worship centres.
In the last one months, three incidents of such
have been reported, even as the invaders in each of the attack left a note
saying “stop worshiping idols.”
have been reported, even as the invaders in each of the attack left a note
saying “stop worshiping idols.”
Angered by the development, the Catholic Diocese of
Enugu officially reacted to the destructions on Tuesday, condemning the act in
the strongest terms.
The Director of Communication in the diocese,
Joseph Offor, in Enugu listed the three churches that had been attacked as:
Seat of Wisdom Parish, Abakpa Nike; St. Leo Catholic Church, Federal Housing
Estate; and St. Mary Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu.
Joseph Offor, in Enugu listed the three churches that had been attacked as:
Seat of Wisdom Parish, Abakpa Nike; St. Leo Catholic Church, Federal Housing
Estate; and St. Mary Catholic Church, Trans-Ekulu.
Reverend Father Offor, while briefing the press
said, “Sometime ago, in October, the Vicar General of the diocese, Monsignor
Luke Adike complained that unknown people invaded the church, Seat of Wisdom
Parish, Abakpa Nike, around 1am.”
said, “Sometime ago, in October, the Vicar General of the diocese, Monsignor
Luke Adike complained that unknown people invaded the church, Seat of Wisdom
Parish, Abakpa Nike, around 1am.”
“In the morning, he went into the church, and he
saw that all the statues, both that of the Sacred Heart, that of the Virgin
Mary and every other thing in the altar has been smashed, destroyed by these
hoodlums”
saw that all the statues, both that of the Sacred Heart, that of the Virgin
Mary and every other thing in the altar has been smashed, destroyed by these
hoodlums”
“On November 4 and November 11, similar incidents
happened at St. Leo and St Mary; they destroyed the statues and the altar while
also leaving a similar message as the previous,” he said.
happened at St. Leo and St Mary; they destroyed the statues and the altar while
also leaving a similar message as the previous,” he said.
The priest quoted one of the messages which reads:
“The 10 commandments of the Lord, the Almighty Lord says, stop worshipping
idols, false gods made by man. I tolerate no rivals.”
“The 10 commandments of the Lord, the Almighty Lord says, stop worshipping
idols, false gods made by man. I tolerate no rivals.”
“Worship only but the living God, the Almighty
God,”
God,”
The Reverend Father stated that the matter had been
reported to the police, adding that the Commissioner of Police in the state,
Musa Daura, had visited the affected churches.
reported to the police, adding that the Commissioner of Police in the state,
Musa Daura, had visited the affected churches.
The Public Relations Officer of the Enugu state
police command, Ebere Amaraizu, said the command has begun probe into the
matter. He urged the people to be vigilant and assist the police with useful
information that may lead to arrest of the culprits.
police command, Ebere Amaraizu, said the command has begun probe into the
matter. He urged the people to be vigilant and assist the police with useful
information that may lead to arrest of the culprits.
Already, the Bishop of the diocese, Callistus
Onaga, had issued a circular urging the parishes and parishioners to be
security conscious.
Onaga, had issued a circular urging the parishes and parishioners to be
security conscious.
