THE faceoff between the Holy Ghost priests at St Martin of Tours Church, Ihiala and the leadership of Nnewi Diocese has continued unabated, with the Diocese explaining that security operatives were invited to protect the property of the church from those it described as mob laying siege on the church.
Addressing reporters at the Nnewi headquarters of the Diocese yesterday, the diocesan Director of Communications, Reverend Father Martin Onwudiwe said there were two recent incidences of hoodlums stealing the Blessed Sacrament in the diocese.
According to him, it was not true that the security operatives were sent to forcefully take over the church as being insinuated by some people.
Onwudiwe said the mob had also threatened the manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, Reverend Father Benedict Okeke while he was in the cubicle of the Blessed Sacrament, noting that it was what informed the bishop to contact Governor Chukwuma Soludo who ordered the deployment of the Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG, to the area.
He said: “The security operatives never invaded the church. Rather, they were sent by the diocese to protect the property of the church, especially the Blessed Sacrament.
“The security men were properly briefed by the bishop not to release gunshots or teargas anyone or even touch anyone. That was why the thugs sent by some people could force them to retreat without challenging the thugs.
Credit: Vanguard News Nigeria