Profanation Of St Peter’s Church Eziama Obaire: Church Set To Engage Police On Dialogue, Says Rev.Onuoha

Dan Opara

It was a black day last Sunday, Dec. 26th, 2021, as some masked armed men in uniform invaded St.Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre LGA, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State, and roundly desecrated God’s sanctuary.

The officiating priest had barely concluded the celebration and administration of the Holy Eucharist, ready for the end of year thanksgiving when those armed men stormed the church.

The Nigerian Police later explained that it was for the purpose of effecting an arrest.

Much as we are not concerned or interested in the reason for this invasion, which is unprecedented in the more than 160 years history of the church in this state, we are gravely worried and disturbed that worshippers were greatly frightened, worried, confused, and completely disorganized by the presence of heavily armed security operatives in the church service thereby disrupting the worship of God’s people.

That the police jumped inside the church in a Gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable.

We are at a great loss why the police decided to throw caution to the winds and completely ignore internationally acclaimed rules of engagement and civility in this matter.

The sporadic gunshots outside the church building sent worshippers scampering in different directions, signaling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.

While the church is in support of and has always been praying for the success of our security personnel in the daunting task and challenge of securing lives and property in our dear state and every effort at bringing the perpetrators/sponsors of this crime against humanity to book no matter how highly placed, we warn that such acts as the one in issue are capable of worsening the security challenges we are currently facing.

The Church will in the next few days engage the Nigerian Police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind this dastardly act and how to avoid a repeat occurrence.

While this process is on, we urge all Christians to continue in prayers for God’s mercy on all of us and peace in our land.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop, Anglican Province of Owerri, Most Rev. Dr. David O. C Onuoha, has restated that the authority of the church has perfected bids to engage in dialogue with the Police Command in Imo State in no distant time, following the current insecurity challenges rocking the State.