By Ibrahim Sulaiman
Barely two days after the attack on a church in Ozubulu town in Anambra State, more facts have emerged indicating lapses on the part of the state government and security apparatus in the state.
The government and the security agents, sources said, failed to respond to early warnings that a crisis of the magnitude witnessed last Sunday morning was in the offing.
A source familiar with the crisis said the attention of the religious leaders in the town had also been drawn to the looming crisis but they all failed to act on it.
“It is a black Sunday in Anambra. It is a black Sunday for every Christian all over the world. For innocent souls to be slaughtered like goats is reprehensible.
“Some of us spoke out on the the dangerous dimension the crisis was taking, but we were ignored.
“The traditional and the religious institutions share a fair amount of blame in this unfortunate incident, including the Bishop of Nnewi. They all refused to ask the hard questions,” the source added.
He further added that: “It’s a shame my town has been put on the world map for the wrong reasons. We pray for the souls of the ones lost due to this terrible tragedy. It happened in my mother’s village.”
According to him, the trouble has been brewing for more than 3 years. “More than 30 to 40 Ozubulu people who live in South Africa have been killed before this incident.
“One of the principal actors (Bishop) Aloysius Ikegwuonu spends 80 percent of his time in Nigeria. Now, I guess they decided to bring the war home to Nigeria. The church the assassination took place was named by my grandfather Chief Philip Ajaegbo. It is called St Philips Church.
“The young man they came to kill built the church. It’s a black Sunday in Anambra, it’s a black Sunday for every Christian all over the world.
“For innocent souls to be slaughtered like goats is reprehensible. Some of us spoke out on the the dangerous dimension the crisis was taking, but we were ignored,” he said.
It was gathered that Alloysuis Ikegwuonu, the Ebubechukwu Ozobulu, was the target of the assassins but they missed him.
Mr Ikegwuonu was allegedly involved in drug deals abroad, and that he cheated his friends who decided to kill him.
However, his father was not fortunate as he was killed by the gunman.
Mr Ikegwuonu was to celebrate his birthday on Sunday as he does every year at the church.
Customarily, the celebration is preceded by the commissioning of various privately sponsored projects (including Churches) for his community.
