How A Catholic Priest Was Beaten By Idol Worshippers At Obubo Village

^{WRITTEN BY NGOZI OBILERI}
A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Fidelis Ugozo has been attacked at Obubo village, Ugbenu in Awka North Local Government Area by irate youths suspected to be idol worshippers from the area.

The youths were said to have beaten the priest to pulp, tore his priestly apparel to a shreds and stabbed him on the face among other Christians who also sustained various degrees of injuries during their monthly Rosary procession.
According to an eye witness report, the priest who is the parish priest of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church Ugbenu was carrying the Blessed Sacrament in procession with his parishioners going round some villages in the community when they were intercepted by one Ikegbunem who is now at large.
Father Ugozo, who is the Spiritual Director of Amen and Amen Ministry, Omogho, in Orumba North Local Government Area was first rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Ebenebe before being transferred to St. Joseph’s hospital, Adazi Nnukwu.
A former Catechist in St. Raphael’s parish Ugbenu, Chief Cletus Nwankwo told our reporter that Obubo village is known in Ugbenu town for adulterous acts, adding that the youths suspected that the Rosary procession was aimed at destroying their deity shrine.

Narrating his ordeal, the Reverend Father Ugozor regretted that the group committed a sacrilege  by destroying the Blessed Sacrament thanking God for saving his life even when he was shot twice.
Giving his own angle to the story, the Traditional Ruler of Ugbenu Town, HRM, Igwe Lawrence Egwuonu whose wife, Lolo Egwuonwu was also battered by the youths, said that the youths stormed his palace before the incident occurred, to complain that their shrine and other sacred symbols were burnt  by Christians.
As at the time of filling this report, two of the suspects Anthony Anigbogu and Humphrey Ekwenye have been arrested by the Police and are now cooling off at the State CID, Awka, while twelve others are still at large.
Reacting on the development, the Catholic bishop of Awka diocese most  Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor called on the faithful in the area to remain calm and allow the law to take its course making it clear that the church will stop at nothing to ensure that the reason behind the incident is unraveled.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state Mrs Nkiru Nwode, who confirmed the incident, said the police on hearing the incident, swung into action immediately and has caught up with some and will do everything to catch up with the culprits as investigation is still ongoing.