*44 victims get cash relief
*As diocese sets up casualty charity fund c’ttee
*Investigation on killings ‘ll be thorough — Obiano
THE Anambra State Police Command has invited Chief Aloysius
Ikegwuonu, who suspected assailants were said to be looking for
when they attacked St Philip’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu
penultimate Sunday.
Ikegwuonu’s father was among the 13 people who lost their lives
during the attack in which nearly 30 people were wounded.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Anambra State, Mrs.
Nkiru Nwode, said, yesterday, that Ikegwuonu, popularly called
‘Bishop’, is expected to appear at the police headquarters in Awka
on Friday.
Ikegwuonu, who left the state before the attack on the church he
built for his community, was said to have returned to the state
last Saturday and attended the first Mass at St Philip’s on
Sunday.
He declined to speak to anybody after the church service in
which the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Professor
Solo Chukwulobelu, also attended as part of a ceremony to reopen
the church.
Nwode said the invitation to Ikegwuonu could not be taken to
mean arrest, adding that the police had no reason to arrest
him.
44 victims get cash relief
This came as Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, yesterday, set up a
10-man Ozubulu Casualty Charity Fund Committee to handle the
welfare of the victims of the attack.
Meanwhile, 44 victims of the attack were, yesterday, given
N50,000 each at various hospitals they were admitted including
Nnewi, Ozubulu and Oba, by the diocese to alleviate their problems
.
Members of the committee are Monsignor Patrick Ezeobata,
chairman; Rev Fr Jude Onwuaso; Rev Fr Donald Chukwudolue; Rev Fr
Joe Onyema; Fr Cajetan Obodozie; Brother Cyprian Oneni; Sister
Theresa Martin; Mrs Juliana Arazu; Mrs Uju Azuka and Dr Sylvester
Igwilo.
Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev Hilary Odili Okeke,
said the committee would visit all the victims in different
hospitals to know their needs with a view to offering a helping
hand to all of them.
Okeke disclosed that the committee has the mandate to ensure
that every help provided by groups and individuals to the victims
would be deposited into a central account called Ozubulu Casualty
Charity Fund provided by the committee.
He said: “Many people and groups in the church are helping the
victims. The state government has promised to pay into that
account. These people eat and that is why we give them money. The
families of the dead will not be forgotten and the committee was
also charged to be accountable in the discharge of its duties.”
Reacting to Ozubulu Youths Association, OYA, protest over the
reopening of the church for service, while investigation is still
being conducted, Bishop Okeke queried whether the protesters were
Christians at all.
“If those protesters are Christians, they should not complain
because they should know that we have to continue to worship God in
every situation.”
Investigation on killings ‘ll be thorough—
Obiano
Also yesterday, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State assured
Ndi Anambra that his administration will leave no stone unturned at
ensuring prompt prosecution of those behind the killing of innocent
worshippers at Ozubulu.
The governor gave the assurance during a re-dedication and
blessing of the church last Sunday by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi
Diocese, Most Rev. Okeke.
The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State
Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, sympathised with the families
of those who died in the incident as well as those that sustained
injuries.
He assured them that Anambra State Government would do
everything possible to ensure that they obtain justice over the
matter.
*44 victims get cash relief
*As diocese sets up casualty charity fund c’ttee
*Investigation on killings ‘ll be thorough — Obiano
THE Anambra State Police Command has invited Chief Aloysius
Ikegwuonu, who suspected assailants were said to be looking for
when they attacked St Philip’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu
penultimate Sunday.
Ikegwuonu’s father was among the 13 people who lost their lives
during the attack in which nearly 30 people were wounded.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Anambra State, Mrs.
Nkiru Nwode, said, yesterday, that Ikegwuonu, popularly called
‘Bishop’, is expected to appear at the police headquarters in Awka
on Friday.
Ikegwuonu, who left the state before the attack on the church he
built for his community, was said to have returned to the state
last Saturday and attended the first Mass at St Philip’s on
Sunday.
He declined to speak to anybody after the church service in
which the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Professor
Solo Chukwulobelu, also attended as part of a ceremony to reopen
the church.
Nwode said the invitation to Ikegwuonu could not be taken to
mean arrest, adding that the police had no reason to arrest
him.
44 victims get cash relief
This came as Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, yesterday, set up a
10-man Ozubulu Casualty Charity Fund Committee to handle the
welfare of the victims of the attack.
Meanwhile, 44 victims of the attack were, yesterday, given
N50,000 each at various hospitals they were admitted including
Nnewi, Ozubulu and Oba, by the diocese to alleviate their problems
.
Members of the committee are Monsignor Patrick Ezeobata,
chairman; Rev Fr Jude Onwuaso; Rev Fr Donald Chukwudolue; Rev Fr
Joe Onyema; Fr Cajetan Obodozie; Brother Cyprian Oneni; Sister
Theresa Martin; Mrs Juliana Arazu; Mrs Uju Azuka and Dr Sylvester
Igwilo.
Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev Hilary Odili Okeke,
said the committee would visit all the victims in different
hospitals to know their needs with a view to offering a helping
hand to all of them.
Okeke disclosed that the committee has the mandate to ensure
that every help provided by groups and individuals to the victims
would be deposited into a central account called Ozubulu Casualty
Charity Fund provided by the committee.
He said: “Many people and groups in the church are helping the
victims. The state government has promised to pay into that
account. These people eat and that is why we give them money. The
families of the dead will not be forgotten and the committee was
also charged to be accountable in the discharge of its duties.”
Reacting to Ozubulu Youths Association, OYA, protest over the
reopening of the church for service, while investigation is still
being conducted, Bishop Okeke queried whether the protesters were
Christians at all.
“If those protesters are Christians, they should not complain
because they should know that we have to continue to worship God in
every situation.”
Investigation on killings ‘ll be thorough—
Obiano
Also yesterday, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State assured
Ndi Anambra that his administration will leave no stone unturned at
ensuring prompt prosecution of those behind the killing of innocent
worshippers at Ozubulu.
The governor gave the assurance during a re-dedication and
blessing of the church last Sunday by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi
Diocese, Most Rev. Okeke.
The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State
Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, sympathised with the families
of those who died in the incident as well as those that sustained
injuries.
He assured them that Anambra State Government would do
everything possible to ensure that they obtain justice over the
matter.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/ozubulu-police-invite-ikegwuonu/