Priest beating priest oya comment:
OWERRI—The schism, which has been trailing the
appointment and consecration of the new Bishop
of Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Peter
Okpalaeke, by the Papacy, took a more dangerous
dimension weekend, as priests allegedly got
entangled in what people described as a dirty
battle.
Vanguard investigations revealed that Rev. Fr.
Januarius Chima Ahaneku went to St. Brigid’s
Catholic Church, Nnarambia, at about 7.15p.m.,
following his posting to the parish by the Vicar
General of the embattled Diocese, Rev. Fr.
Clement Ebii.
While Fr. Ahaneku was accused of storming the
parish with thugs and assaulting the resident
priest, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Nweke, Ahaneku,
however, said he was there on legitimate posting.
Nweke confirmed that he had to alert the police
and the people when his brother priest allegedly
exhibited an act unbecoming of an ordained
Catholic priest.
He said: “They started harassing us, using
hammer and some iron bars to break the doors
and gained entrance. Some of us even sustained
injuries. I dislocated my left shoulder.”
Continuing, Fr. Nweke alleged that the police
recovered pump action rifle, double barrelled gun
and an electric shocker from Fr. Ahaneku and his
friends.
Fr. Ahaneku’s story
In his own account, Fr. Ahaneku, who is a son of
Nnarambia, said although he presented a letter
from the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Clement Ebii,
deploying him to St. Brigid’s Parish, as an Acting
Parish Priest, he never attempted the use of
violence as claimed by Nweke.
He explained that the men, who were arrested by
the police as thugs merely accompanied him to
the Parish, to assist him settle down with his
belongings.
He said: “The Parish Priest left without the
knowledge of the Vicar General/Delegate of the
Diocese. So, I was detailed to go there and take
care of the souls of the parishioners. I did not go
there with a thug at all.”
Continuing, the obviously angry priest recalled
that “when Fr. Nweke came out, we greeted each
other and I explained my mission to him and he
said he was not informed of the posting and
insisted that the Vicar should call him.
“The Vicar General called him severally but he
refused to pick his calls.
“I took him to my car and showed him my
authority: the letter I was given. After reading it,
he said there was no trouble.”
Continuing, the priest recalled that as he was
trying to move his personal belongings into the
parish house with the help of his friends, Fr.
Nweke started making calls.
Ahaneku said: “They first raised false alarm to the
police that some armed robbers invaded their
house.
“In a matter of minutes, several people stormed
the place. A lot of them were carrying machetes
and other dangerous weapons.
“I wanted to leave in my vehicle but my brother
priest stood in front of my car, insisting that I will
not move an inch. In order not to smash him or
commit any crime, I left the vehicle there,” Fr.
Ahaneku recounted.
The Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, which Fr.
Ahaneku drove to the parish was badly vandalized
by the alleged angry youths and was still in the
custody of the Church at press time.
Vicar-General’s confirmation
Reacting also, the Vicar General of the Diocese,
Rev. Fr. Ebii, however confirmed that Fr. Ahaneku
had his approval to report to St. Brigid’s Catholic
Church.
He said: “Fr. Ahaneku was sent there officially to
go and do pastoral work. He had a legal paper
from me.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Police Command has
appealed to the Administrator of Ahiara Diocese,
who doubles as the Archbishop of Abuja
Ecclesiastical Province, His Eminence, John
Cardinal Onaiyekan, to find a lasting solution to
the lingering crisis bedevilling Ahiara Diocese,
since the death of Bishop Victor Chikwe.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr.
Andrew Enwerem, who made the passionate
appeal, while reacting to the mayhem unleashed
by some supposed parishioners in St. Brigid’s
Church, Nnarambia.
He said: “It is most shocking that priests can get
to this level. The Catholic Church and its priests
are supposed to show good examples for others
to follow.”
No comments: