Anambra massacre: Youths protest reopening of church

Ozubulu youths on Monday protested the reopening of St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu,  Anambra state for worship.

The church was attacked on August 6 by unknown gunmen and 13 worshippers were killed while 27 sustained varying degrees of injuries.

A week later ( Sunday) the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi diocese, Most Rev Hilary Okeke, rededicated  and opened the place as some government officials worshipped.

The youths who marched from Ozubulu Motor park to Ekwusigo Local Government headquarters  through the Ozoubulu Police station to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Obi  Nnamdi Oruche, described the reopening of the church as a smack of insensibility.

Addressing  journalists ,  the President of Ozubulu Youth Association, Mr Emeka Anakwe, said  it  was worrisome that  a church where over 13 people were killed  would be reopened for service one week after the attack when investigation into the matter had not been concluded.
He said that  was contrary to the earlier promise by the Nnewi Diocese that  the church would be  temporarily closed for service until when the  police would  conclude their investigations.

He said, “Reopening the church is the  highest level of disregard for the dead and wounded people of Ozoubulu.

“We see it as a provocation to the families and relations of the victim, for  the church to be holding service when the community is still mourning their dead.

“We cannot accept it.”

Anakwe who condemned the attack on the innocent worshippers, said,  “The youths of Ozubulu are concerned about the attack because the entire people of Ozubulu are now living in fear; we cannot sleep comfortably any more, and our people can no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of fear of recurrence.”Punch