News reaching us shows that there was blood letting in the
sleeping town of Awba-Ofemili in Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra
State, following a clash between Christians and touts who claimed to be pagans
in the town reputed for its ‘Awba-Ofemili rice.’
NaijaAgroNet
gathered that not less than 20 Christians were heavily injured with matchet
cuts during a Christian vigil crusade held inside St. Paul’s Anglican Church,
Awba-Ofemili, even as this may not be unconnected to 2012 flood largesse, which
petition is before the Anambra State government and was jointly signed by Rev.
Fr. Emma Ezenwata and Rev. Patrick Odinanwa.
Also, St. Paul’s Catholic Church was not left out as its
roof was said to have been perforated with gun bullets by these touts who claim
to be pagans as well as the Parish House recently completed by the Catholic
Women Organisation (CWO), while the Rice Mill, also owned by CWO was burnt down
alongside some bags of rice awaiting milling.
Another source in the town told NaijaAgroNet that a day before, that
is Sunday night, there was some skirmishes of threats in the town, culminating
in the attack of St. Paul’s Anglican Church by same group of people, who
claimed that they were observing ‘Obia-na-uchichi’ that is night masquerade
season.
It was gathered in good authority that these hoodlums carted
away the generating set that supplied electricity to the church, venue of the vigil
on Sunday night.
Further sources from the town pointed accusing figures to
the leadership of the town, under a regent Chief
Benard Nwanelo and vigilante
group, who up till the time of this report has not made any arrest. Efforts to
get the side of Chief Nwanelo at the time of filing this report was not
successful as his mobile phone was said to be switched off.
According to the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Catholic
Church, Awba-Ofemili, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel
Ezenwata, who was out of town at the time of this incident, the pagans
in the town burnt church building, blustered the roofs and ceilings of new
Fathers’ House and destroyed building of some Christians in the town.
A source, who pleaded for anonymity said that the wind of
the crisis was very evident during last weekend, leading to summon of the
church leaders and those claiming traditionalists in preparation for the annual
ceremony which last for about a week, and which forbids women from being
outside from about 6pm and restricts movement likewise, except for the
initiates.
“Despite the insistence of both parties to shed their
swords, the town regent did not involve the Police, knowingly fully well that
the security of the town was under threat,” our source alleged.
The catechist of St. Paul’s Anglican Church Awba-Ofemili, was
said to be the most injured with several matchet cuts among 20 members of the Christendom
attending the vigil, while the priest in-charge, Rev. Patrick Odinanwa, escaped
through the nearby bush.
Unfortunately, the two medical centres in the town were
reported to have since stopped working and the nearest is located at Ebenebe,
near Amansea with poor road network.
“This could lead in deaths due to uncontrolled bleeding by
the injured,” our source lamented.
Confirming this to NaijaAgroNet,
President General, Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU), Mr. Chukwuma Nwabufo told
correspondent, he was on his way to the town, decrying the incident, adding
that the town has been very accommodative to any religion and did not
understand why there should be a fracas this time around, even as he appealed
for calm.
He has also reached out to the Divisional Police Officer in
Ugbene, a neighbouring town on the matter, among the state apparatus.
Meanwhile, NaijaAgroNet
recalls that a few weeks ago, both priests, Rev. Fr. Ezenwata and Rev. Odinanwa
jointed petitioned the Anambra State government over the misappropriation of
the N3 million meant for flood victims in the town last year.
The petition addressed to the Secretary to the Anambra State
Government and Chairman, Committee on Flooding Anambra State, indicted some key
members of the town union in collaboration with the town’s Regent, the Onosolu
Eze, Chief Nwanelo, for allegedly connived with each other to divert the said
fund.
NaijaAgroNet further
learnt that following the intervention of one of its sons, Mr. Sabastine Okoye,
who is the current Commissioner for Environment, the matter was withdrawn to be
settled at home.
The joint petition which was also sent to the Governor
Anambra State, had the Catholic Bishop of Awka and his Anglican counterpart, as
well as the Transition Chairman, Awka – North L.G.A, the Regent and ADU president
general, all in copy.