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| St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, Anambra State |
Ozubulu youths under the umbrella body of Ozubulu Youths Association
(OYA) on Monday protested the reopening of St Philips Catholic Church,
Amakwa Ozubulu, Anambra State, on Sunday barely a week after gunmen
attacked worshippers in the church.
(OYA) on Monday protested the reopening of St Philips Catholic Church,
Amakwa Ozubulu, Anambra State, on Sunday barely a week after gunmen
attacked worshippers in the church.
The youths who labelled the killings as attack of their people
without provocation accused police of inability to bring the people to
book.
without provocation accused police of inability to bring the people to
book.
The youths took their match from Ozubulu Motor Park opposite Ekwusigo
Local Government headquarters in Ozubulu, round the villages in the
community to the Ozoubulu Police station to the palace of the
traditional ruler of the community Obi Fidelis Nnamdi Oruche before they
retired to the park.
Local Government headquarters in Ozubulu, round the villages in the
community to the Ozoubulu Police station to the palace of the
traditional ruler of the community Obi Fidelis Nnamdi Oruche before they
retired to the park.
They regretted the attack on innocent worshippers who only came to
worship saying that enough is enough on the attack of the innocent
people of the community.
worship saying that enough is enough on the attack of the innocent
people of the community.
Addressing journalists shortly after the peaceful protest, President
of OYA, Comrade Emeka Anakwe, a Port Harcourt based Clearing and
Forwarding Agent, condemned the opening of the church 7days of the
killing of 13 people even when investigations were yet to be concluded.
of OYA, Comrade Emeka Anakwe, a Port Harcourt based Clearing and
Forwarding Agent, condemned the opening of the church 7days of the
killing of 13 people even when investigations were yet to be concluded.
He said: “It is worrisome that the church where over 13 people were
gruesomely killed by gunmen would be reopened for service one week after
the attack for service, when investigation into the matter has not been
concluded contrary to the earlier promise by the Nnewi Diocese that it
will be closed temporarily for service until police finish their
investigations.
gruesomely killed by gunmen would be reopened for service one week after
the attack for service, when investigation into the matter has not been
concluded contrary to the earlier promise by the Nnewi Diocese that it
will be closed temporarily for service until police finish their
investigations.
“Reopening the church is highest level disregard for the dead and
wounded people of Ozubulu, the youths see it as provocation to the
families and relations of the victim, for the youths to see the church
holding service when the community is still mourning their death. It is
what we cannot accept, if it is not to tell us that we cannot do
anything.”
wounded people of Ozubulu, the youths see it as provocation to the
families and relations of the victim, for the youths to see the church
holding service when the community is still mourning their death. It is
what we cannot accept, if it is not to tell us that we cannot do
anything.”
Comrade Anakwe noted that the youths of Ozubulu are concerned about
the attack because according to him, the entire people of Ozubulu are
now living in fears adding that they cannot sleep.
the attack because according to him, the entire people of Ozubulu are
now living in fears adding that they cannot sleep.
He said: “We cannot sleep comfortably any more, and our people can no
longer sleep with their eyes closed because of fear of re-occurrence.”
longer sleep with their eyes closed because of fear of re-occurrence.”
“We have in the past seen a situation where a security man was caught
with fresh human head and was arrested but when we did not see him
being prosecuted, we started asking questions, but we were told that the
matter is in the court.
with fresh human head and was arrested but when we did not see him
being prosecuted, we started asking questions, but we were told that the
matter is in the court.
“We are not happy that when incident like this happen it is swept
under the carpet, we are peaceful people we are not into crimes, in the
past people from Nnewi, Nnobi, Oraifite and other neighbouring towns
come here in Ozubulu to drink and relax because of peaceful atmosphere,
our town has always play host to people from other communities in the
state because of its peaceful nature, but today that situation is being
eroded with these nasty stories of killings happening here.”
under the carpet, we are peaceful people we are not into crimes, in the
past people from Nnewi, Nnobi, Oraifite and other neighbouring towns
come here in Ozubulu to drink and relax because of peaceful atmosphere,
our town has always play host to people from other communities in the
state because of its peaceful nature, but today that situation is being
eroded with these nasty stories of killings happening here.”
He further explained that crime took over the community because of
the community’s elders neglect of their youths for so long saying that
they will no longer accept such disposition from the elders of the
community as they are prepared to play active role in the issues that
affect the community and the people.
the community’s elders neglect of their youths for so long saying that
they will no longer accept such disposition from the elders of the
community as they are prepared to play active role in the issues that
affect the community and the people.
“We must take our destiny in our hands. We hear stories of our youth
fighting and killing themselves, over disagreement in business, other
stories of certain people being drug peddlers, and fight over who
becomes the President General of the community in Ozubulu and in the
Diaspora, all those stories are trash, they are not true.
fighting and killing themselves, over disagreement in business, other
stories of certain people being drug peddlers, and fight over who
becomes the President General of the community in Ozubulu and in the
Diaspora, all those stories are trash, they are not true.
“When we have issues of who becomes president general of Ozubulu
Development Union (ODU), there was to be an election and when it became
clear that it will result in crisis, the government stepped in and
appointed Caretaker Committee President of ODU and we have been having
peace since that appointment.
Development Union (ODU), there was to be an election and when it became
clear that it will result in crisis, the government stepped in and
appointed Caretaker Committee President of ODU and we have been having
peace since that appointment.
“If there is crisis among youths in and outside the country, we can
settle it amicably, so all we want is police to come out and tell us
those behind the killing of our people worshiping in the church.”
settle it amicably, so all we want is police to come out and tell us
those behind the killing of our people worshiping in the church.”
News Express
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