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Tag: catholic

  • Kidnapped Owerri bishop is not dead- Catholic church

    Kidnapped Owerri bishop is not dead- Catholic church

    The Archbishop of Owerri Catholic, A. Obinna, has said the news making the rounds that the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, Moses Chikwe, who was abducted on Sunday in Owerri, the Imo state capital, had been killed by his abductors.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that on Tuesday there were reports that the corpse of the prelate was allegedly found somewhere at the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state, causing terror in the state.

    However the archbishop of the archdiocese in a statement quickly issued by Rev. Fr. Nnaemeka Njezi, who is the assistant secretary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, stated that there was no truth in the death rumour.

    The statement, which described the news as deceptive, asked the Catholic faithful to be prayerful.

    It stated that the archdiocese was hopeful that the abducted prelate would be released unhurt.

    The statement read, “His grace, Most Rev Anthony Obinna, Archbishop of Owerri, hereby requests all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill at large to disregard the purported news feed by one Useni Yusuf at AJ press on the killing of the auxiliary bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev Moses Chikwe.

    “This information is unconfirmed, misleading and does not come from the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.

    “We continue to appeal that (we) all join the archbishop in prayers for the releas of Bishop Chikwe and Mr Ndubuisi Robert, his driver.”

     

     

  • Confirmed: Two Rev sisters, five students, family of four, five others die in Lagos explosion

    Confirmed: Two Rev sisters, five students, family of four, five others die in Lagos explosion

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  • Gunmen kidnap Catholic priest in Edo

    Gunmen have abducted a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Isaac Agubi in Edo State.

    Father Agabi who is the priest in charge of Holy Name Catholic Church, Ikpeshi, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state was kidnapped last Sunday.

    It was gathered that the cleric was abducted along Auchi-Igarra road at about 5.00 p.m. while returning to his parish.

    The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the report.

    He said the cleric was abducted by gunmen who took him away in his Toyota Corolla with registration number SMK 252 FC.

    Nwanbuzor said rescue efforts have already been activated.

  • CAN condemns killings of Catholic, Baptist clerics in Abuja, Kaduna

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday condoled with the leaderships of the Roman Catholic Church and the Nigerian Baptist Convention over the demise of the two clerics.

    The President, Rev Samson Ayokunle in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant, Media and Communications to the CAN president, in Abuja condemned their killings.

    Ayokunle said the clerics were killed by some unknown gunmen in Abuja and Kaduna State.

    He added that the late Rev. Fr. Michael Akawu, was reportedly shot dead by identified gunmen in Gwagwalada, Abuja, while shopping on Aug. 18.

    “Few hours later, on Sunday, August 19, at about 1.00 a.m, according to informed sources, some hoodlums suspected to be Fulani terrorists attacked Nasara Baptist Church in Guguwa near Rigasa in Kaduna.

    “The suspected terrorists shot dead Rev. Hosea Akuchi and took away his wife, Mrs Talatu Akuchi.

    “Her whereabouts remain unknown and the criminals have demanded for the sum of five million naira for her release,” he said.

    Ayokunle said that Akawu, was ordained as priest on Feb. 4, 2017 by the Archbishop of Abuja, the Most Revd. John Cardinal Onayeikan and was the first FCT indigenous Catholic priest to be ordained.

    The CAN president prayed to God to comfort and console the Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria and the Nigerian Baptist Convention, the churches where they were serving with their immediate families.

    He, however, called on the Nigeria Police and other relevant security agencies to do whatever it takes to bring the culprits to book and rescue the widow of the late Rev. Akuchi as soon as practicable.

    “We once again call on our security agencies to be more proactive and invest more on intelligence gathering with a view to preventing many of these crimes that are being committed before their watches undetected,” he stressed.

    The cleric noted with pains and disappointment the state of insecurity across the country, adding that the Federal Government should work hard to improve security in the country.

    According to him, nowhere is safe and secured, as terrorists, rampaging Fulani herdsmen, killer bandits, armed robbers, kidnappers and other hoodlums were operating unchecked.

    He said that the security agencies seemed busy with elections and forgot that leaders were elected to rule over the living souls.

    “Nigeria’s security situation is reprehensible, unacceptable and condemnable. We once again call on President Muhammadu Buhari to work on the security system of the country.

    “Let there be a visible improvement in our security system, as the governed are not satisfied with their performances in ensuring security of lives and property.

    The CAN president again called on the Police to arrest all assailants that were responsible for these evil acts.

    “Enough of the senseless killings, these killings must stop in the country,’’ he warned.

     

  • Bokkos killings: Catholic bishop donates food items, cash to IDPs

    Bokkos killings: Catholic bishop donates food items, cash to IDPs

    Most Rev. Michael Gokum, the Catholic Bishop of Pankshin Diocese of Plateau, on Sunday donated food items and N45,000 to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau.

    The donation was facilitated by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the diocese.

    Gunmen recently attacked some communities in Daffo District of Bokkos and killed many people, with scores injured and thousands rendered homeless.

    Presenting the items to the displaced persons on Sunday, Gokum said the gesture was to alleviate their sufferings and give them a sense of belonging.

    “We are here to empathise with our brothers and sisters who are affected by the recent ugly happenings in some communities of this locality.

    “When such things happen, those affected become helpless; as such will need urgent support to cater for their immediate needs of feeding and shelter.

    “So, we have come with a little token and some food items to assist them find succor, pending when they will return to their original places of abode,” he said.

    Gokum encouraged the people to always trust and believe in God, and show Him gratitude in every situation they found themselves.

    The bishop, however, tasked the affected persons against revenge.

    He urged them to live in peace with their neighbours for the good and development of their communities in particular and the state in general.

    He called on government to strengthen the security apparatus to ensure safety of lives and property in all parts of the state.

    Earlier, Rev. Fr. Bassil Kassam, the JDPC Coordinator in the diocese had commiserated with IDPs and urged them to be prayerful.

    Some of the items donated include; bags of rice, beans, sugar, garri, among others.

     

  • Catholic Bishops chides Buhari: ‘So much suffering, hopelessness in Nigeria’

    Catholic Bishops in Nigeria on Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to end the endless suffering, killings and other crimes afflicting Nigerians.

    They made the plea when they paid a courtesy call on the President at the State House, Abuja.

    The clerics in an address delivered by Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos, and William Avenya, the Bishop of Gboko, said “there is too much suffering in the country: poverty, hunger, insecurity, violence, fear… the list is endless.

    “Our beloved country appears to be under siege Many negative forces seem to be keeping a stranglehold on the population, especially the weaker and defenceless ones”.

    Read full text of their address below:

    Preamble We, the representatives of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, bring you our cordial greetings and blessings. We desired this meeting, in order to continue the dialogue we initiated with you even before your election as President. We therefore thank you for granting us this audience, which affords us the opportunity to share with you, once again, our thoughts and concerns on some ssues affecting our dear country, Nigeria

    First, we thank God for bringing you back to us after a period of ill health.
    We hope and pray that you continue to make progress on the way to full recovery, in order to be able to face the enormous challenges emanating from your exalted office

    Your Excellency, needless to say that, as President, you are the Father of our dear country Nigeria. It is therefore pertinent that as loyal citizens as well as informed members of the society we come to you from time to time to express not only our willing cooperation with the government in working for the progress of our country, but also to share with you the feelings of the multitude of Nigerians at this moment. We work with the people at the grassroots and therefore, have first-hand information about what they are going through.

    There is no doubt that when you came into office, you had an enormous amount of the goodwill of Nigerians, since many saw you as a person of integrity who would be able to bring sanity into a system that was nearly crippled by endemic corruption. Nearly three years later, however one has the feeling that this good will is being fast depleted by some glaring failures of government which we have the moral responsibility to bring to your notice, else we would be failing in our duty as spiritual fathers and leaders.

    Our Concerns

    Your Excellency, there is too much suffering in the country: poverty, hunger, insecurity, violence, fear… the list is endless. Our beloved country appears to be under siege Many negative forces seem to be keeping a stranglehold on the population, especially the weaker and defenceless ones.

    There is a feeling of hopelessness across the country. Our youths are restive and many of them have taken to hard drugs, cultism and other forms of iolent crime, while many have become victims of human trafficking. The Nation is nervous.

    Just as we seem to be gradually emerging from the dark tunnel of an economic recession that caused untold hardship to families and individuals, violent attacks by unscrupulous persons, among whom are terrorists masquerading as herdsmen, have led to a near civil war situation in many parts of the country. We are saddened that, repeatedly, innocent citizens in different communities across the nation are brutally attacked and their sources of livelihood mindlessly destroyed. Lives are wasted and property, worth billions of Naira, including places of worship schools, hospitals and business enterprises are torched and turned to ashes.

    We are still more saddened by the recent massacre of unarmed citizens by these terrorists in some communities n Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba States which has caused national shock, grief and outcry. The silence of the federal government in the wake of these horrifying attacks is, to say the least, shocking. There is a feeling of helplessness among the people and the danger that some people may begin to take laws into their hands.

    We therefore earnestly urge the government to take very seriously its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of its citizens and ensure that such mindless killings do not reoccur. Herdsmen may be under pressure to save their livestock and economy but this is never to be done at the expense of other people’s lives and means of livelihood. We would like to add our voice to those of other well-meaning Nigerians who insist that a better alternative to open grazing should be sought rather than introducing “cattle colonies” in the country. While thinking of how best to help cattle owners establish ranches, government should equally have plans to help the other farmers whose produce is essential for our survival as a nation

    In a similar vein, daredevil kidnappers, who at present are having a field day, with a feeling of invincibility, must be made to understand that there is a government in this country Government should invest more in equipping our Police Force with modern high-tech devices that will help them track down and arrest these criminals and make them face the wrath of the law.

    The Federal Character Principle is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: “The government of the Federation or any of its and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies (Section 14, Sub-section 3-4 Disregard for this Principle in some federal government appointments as well as perceptible imbalance in the distribution of federal amenities has created the loss of a sense of belonging in many parts of the country, hence the constant cries of marginalization, agitation for secession and calls for restructuring.

    These and many more such problems are, in our opinion, grave matters that should be worrying all political leaders in our country today, rather than any bid for re-election.

    Conclusion and Assurance of Prayers.

    Our Church has always complemented the efforts of government in such areas as providing quality education and primary health care services to our people. We continue to make our contribution to nation-building through our prayers, admonitions and assistance to needy. Nigerians whenever we can. As the voice of the voiceless, we shall continue to highlight the plight of our people and play our prophetic role of sensitizing the government, thus promoting good governance, national unity and cohesion. We strongly feel that everybody in government at this moment has to take more decisive steps to restore the confidence of the Nigerian people in our governments. Our collective efforts must be seen in the desire to return to the fine principles of democracy, such as true federalism negotiation and consensus building, as means of achieving a more equitable distribution of the resources of our country and good governance.

    Thank you, Excellency, for the audience and may God bless you.

    Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ayau KAIGAMA Archbishop of Jos , CBCN President, CBCN

    Your Most Rev. Dr. William AVENYA
    Bishop of Gboko
    Secretary CBCN

  • Breaking: President Buhari meets with Catholic Bishops

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with Catholic Bishops at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja.

     

    Details shortly…

     

  • Catholic priest kidnapped, killed in Imo

    Imo State Police Command has confirmed the report of kidnap and murder of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Onunkwo.

    Confirming the ugly incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Chris Ezike, told newsmen that the priest’s corpse has been recovered.

    “The matter was properly reported to the police and we went into action. Less than 24 hours after, the Orsu Divisional Police Officer, DPO, reported the discovery of an abandoned corpse in its area of jurisdiction”, Ezike said.

    According to the Imo police boss, priests of Orlu Catholic Diocese were called in immediately and they identified the corpse as their priest.

    “Although we are working on all leads over the matter. For now, it is a clear case of abduction and murder. If it was a case of kidnapping, his captives would have put a call across to anybody close their victim and made a demand”, Ezike said.

    Answering a question, the CP said that “although nobody has been arrested in connection with the crime, we are investigating it”. He promised to keep Vanguard posted as investigation progress.

  • Rain of bullets in Anambra Church killings: ‘Death toll of bloody drug war rises to 11’

    The death toll of the tragic Anambra Church killings at St Philip’s Catholic church, Ofufe Nza, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State, when a hooded gunman stormed the church and rained bullets on the congregants, has risen to 11, the police has confirmed.

    Recall TheNewsGuru had earlier published that eight people died, while 18 others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries, in the Anambra gun church attack.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Garba Umar, who provided the update said that the command would leave no turn unturned to bring the attackers to justice.

    Mr. Umar, who spoke at a news conference in Awka, gave the updated figures of casualties as 11 dead and 18 injured.

    The gunman was said to have entered the church while the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Onwuaso, was delivering his homily.

    Confirming that the killings in Anambra Church, Ozubulu, was drug crime-related, the Police said intelligence report/preliminary investigation proved that it was a fight between two sons of the community residing outside the country that caused the incident, adding that it was one of the suspected drug barons who built the church in which the incident happened.

    The state governor, Willie Obiano, had earlier also confirmed this, saying he had been briefed by sources in the community that the reason for the killings was as a result of a misunderstanding between two members of the community who live outside the country.

    An eyewitness, Pa Don Ogbuagu, told news men that the gunman actually wanted to assassinate a billionaire son of one of the clan chiefs of Ozubulu, Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu (a.k.a. Bishop Ebubechukwu-Uzo of Ozubulu).

    Ogbuagu said unfortunately for the gunman, he met his absence. This forced him to storm a church located near the alleged billionaire’s house (St Philips) in search of him but also found he was not there.

    “This angered him to the extent that he opened fire on innocent parishioners, shooting at them indiscriminately. The father of the billionaire was also shot and injured in his hand”, he added.

    Also, a statement by the director of communications, Nnewi diocese, Fr. Hygi Aghualor, confirming the incident noted that those who were injured during the incident are receiving treatment at Nnamdi Azikiwe teaching hospital, Nnewi.

    The statement made available to newsmen also noted that both the state governor, Willie Obiano and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese, Most Rev Hilary Okeke visited the scene as soon as the incident was reported to them.

    Lamenting over the gruesome killings, Fr. Aghualor said, “It is regrettable that our people are more and more losing sense of the Sacred. What on earth should make people open gun fire on innocent, unarmed worshippers on Sunday morning, including children and women? We condemned this ungodly act in toto.

    “We pray the almighty God to console the families affected and assured them that our hearts are with them as we pray for the quick recovery of the wounded. The governor decided to pick the bills of those in the hospital. The parish priest Rev Father Jude was not harmed. For the entire parishioners, we call on them not to be discouraged in their usual practice of faith.

    “It is when the forces of darkness attempt to over shadow goodness that the light of God shines even brighter than ever just as it happened at the Easter Sunday. Evil may make attempts but God will always triumph. We call on the good people to continue to pray for the deceased worshippers and the families”.

     

     

    It’s unspeakable sacrilege –Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday condemned the Anambra Catholic church killings.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President described the incident as “an appalling crime against humanity and unspeakable sacrilege.

    “This kind of atrocity plumbs the depth of depravity and extreme cruelty of the kind that words cannot adequately express.”

    According to the President, there is no religion that does not lay constant emphasis on the sanctity of life, adding that “all Nigerians must rise up and speak with one voice against these remorseless evil men.”

    President Buhari also spoke on Sunday on the telephone from his hospital bed in London with Governor Obiano.

    Shehu disclosed this in another statement.

    “The President has just finished speaking to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, in the course of which he commiserated with him, the families of the victims and the citizens of the state,” the statement said.

    Saraki, Ekweremadu lament killings

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the act was evil.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said killing of the worshippers represented “the purest kind of evil.”

    He said, “This brutal act of attacking innocent worshippers represents the purest kind of evil.

    “Our security forces must not stop until those involved in execution of the massacre are brought to book.’’

    Ekweremadu, in a separate statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said the attack was “beastly and sacrilegious.”

    While describing the day as a black Sunday, the Deputy Senate President called on security agencies to fish out the killers.

    He said, “However, this dastardly act brings to the fore, once again, the need to reengineer our security system, to arrest the rising wave of violent crimes in the country.”

    Insecurity reducing Nigeria to the state of nature –Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, described the attack as abominable and the height of wickedness.

    In a statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, Dogara said, “Have we lost our humanity? Where is the place of sanctity of life and sacredness of worship places in our society? What offence did the worshippers commit to warrant their massacre by wicked souls and heartless men?”

    The Speaker reiterated his call for the overhaul of Nigeria’s policing architecture that would lead to reform of the police force, adding that equipping the police with modern gadgets would allow them to discharge their duties of protecting lives and property effectively.

    Mindless attack taken too far–Okowa

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State described the attack as mindless.

    Okowa said it was condemnable for anyone to take his anger on a church which was supposed to be a place of refuge.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, noted that the tragic incident was unwarranted.

    The statement said the attack was a desecration of the temple of God, adding that the Church should be a place of refuge and devoid of attacks even in war.

    He said, “This unwarranted attack and mindless bloodletting is not only wicked, but barbaric and must be condemned by all good men of conscience.”

    PDP condemns killings

    The Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday said it was in shock over the attack.

    The party, in a statement by its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, described the invasion as barbaric and a serious indication that “our society is fast degenerating into a state of anomie with total moral collapse and utter disregard for the sanctity of human life.”

    Adeyeye said the killings was a call for moral rearmament by all and sundry, adding that it was a wake-up call for the government to do more in the area of protection of lives and property.

    It is barbaric, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress said on Sunday that the attack was barbaric.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators “of this heinous crime are brought to justice.’’

    “The APC condemns the barbarism displayed by the callous attackers who gunned down defenceless people while they worshiped,” the statement added.

    Abdullahi also called on security agents in Anambra, as well as other parts of the country to provide adequate security in places of worship to forestall a repeat of “this unfortunate incident.”

    S/East govs forum demands probe

    The South-East Governors Forum on Sunday demanded a “proper investigation” into the attack on the Catholic Church.

    The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, in a statement said a proper investigation must be conducted to unravel the true cause of the carnage.

    He said, “I, on behalf of the South-East Governors Forum, condemn the killings recorded in the church, It shows how wicked our generation is. I call on security agencies to unravel the true cause of the carnage.”

    Address proliferation of arms –CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria also condemned the killings.

    CAN President, Dr Supo Ayokunle, said the attack was unwarranted and urged security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Ayokunle in a statement, said, “I urge the Federal Government, through the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to address the issue of proliferation of arms and ammunition to make our world safer.

    “The perpetrators of this ungodly act must be brought to book without delay.”

    Also, the youth wing of CAN blamed the attack on lapses in security.

    The National President of YOWICAN, Daniel Kadzai, in a statement, said, “This attack was made possible as a result of what we consider a deliberate shirking of responsibilities by the state security agencies.

    “We demand the arrest of perpetrators of this terrorist-style crime within the next 48 hours. If the state security apparatuses do not stand up to this challenge, YOWICAN will have no choice but to take up this matter using a much strenuous approach.’’

  • Anambra Church killings: “Sacrilegious, totally unacceptable” – Gov Obiano

    To ascertain the level of damage and sympathize with his people, Anambra State Governor Obiano has visited St Philip’s Catholic Church, where eight worshippers killed in the State.

    Speaking at the Church premises, the governor revealed that preliminary security investigations show that the shooting was caused by a feud between two brothers from the community living outside Nigeria

    This is sacrilegious, totally unacceptable in Anambra State,” Obiano said.

    The deeply saddened governor asked the people to go about their businesses without fear or panic noting that this isolated case must be followed to the root and all perpetrators must be brought to book.

    “We can’t allow this happen in Anambra, we must get everyone involved to face the music” the governor declared.
    Gov Obiano also visited Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi where the injured are being treated.

    Thanking over 50 doctors who were on ground looking after the injured, the governor assured their families that all medical bills will be taken care of by the State Government.