The Anglican Church of Nigeria has criticized a heavily armed police raid on one of its congregations in Imo State.
Most Reverend David Onuoha, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Nigeria’s Owerri Ecclesiastical Diocese, condemned the security personnel’ actions in a statement headed ‘Re: Desecration of St Peter’s Church Eziama Obaire.’
“It was a black Sunday yesterday December 26, 2021, as armed men in uniform invaded St Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State and roundly desecrated God’s sanctuary,” said the statement released on Monday.
“The officiating priest had barely concluded the celebration and administration of the Holy Eucharist, ready for the end of year thanksgiving when armed men stormed the church. The Nigerian Police later explained that it was for the purpose of effecting an arrest.”
According to reports, police raided the church in order to apprehend Uche Nwosu, a former governorship candidate in Imo and son-in-law of former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Senator Okorocha reacted angrily to what he characterized as his family members’ continual incarceration and harassment.
While the state administration previously declared that no one may tell the police how to make an arrest, it also stated that the security operatives’ method of operation could have been prevented.
“While we are not concerned or interested in the reason for this invasion, which is unprecedented in the more than 160-year history of the church in this state,” Onuoha lamented, “we are gravely concerned 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 God’s people’s worship.”
“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.”
According to the clergyman, the sporadic gunshots outside the church building sent worshippers scampering in different directions, signalling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.
He stated that the church was in support of security personnel and has always prayed for their success in the daunting task and challenge of securing lives and property in Imo.
Onuoha, however, warned that acts such as the one in question could worsen the security challenges facing the state.
The Church, according to him, will in the next few days engage the police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind the invasion.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
