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By Ebere Suzy Okoye
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Armed men believed to be local vigilance group members attached to Our Ladyโs Industrial Centre, Nkpor, Idemili North local Government Area, Anambraย State at the weekend set ablaze the House of theย Parish Priest in charge of our Ladyโs Catholic Church, within theย industrial premises, Rev. Father Martin Onukwuba and the Boysโ quarters.
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According to Rev Father Onukwuba said that himself and theย Resident Priest, Rev Father Ben Oguejiofor escaped death by the whiskers hinting that some of the laity that witnessed the attack did not knowย how both priests escaped.
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He expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be brought to justice no matter how highly placed.
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In the words of the parish priest, โI donโt know when we will be back toย the house again because the destruction is took much. We canโt live here for nowโ.
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ย On the arrest made by the police he said โthose hoodlums who attacked usย were yet to be arrested, those arrested were mere workers at the bakeryย now that our lawyer has taken up the matter there is no cause forย alarmโ.
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The counsel to the church, Barrister C.J Asiegbu appointed accusing finger at the proprietress and ย management of the industrial centre who he disclosed were in court with the church prior to the incident over ownership of the church premises.
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Also speaking,ย Rev. father Oguejiofor who scaled the fence when the attackers cameย calling told the members of the church flogged by the armed men to takeย heart and declined further comment as father Onukwuba held brief forย both of them.
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Propertiesย estimated into millions of naira were destroyed and saved items wereย seen being transferred to another parish when this reporter called.
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Items burnt included, electrical appliances, chairs, tables, books, cookingย utensils, plates, clothes, pictures, clocks, fathersโ house and boysย quanters
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Contacted on the incident, the Ogidi Divisional police officer, DPO, Mr. Abdulย Yusurf, confirmed the incident and arrest of some suspects but declinedย further comment
