Police parade suspected killers of two Catholic priests in Enugu

* …as another priest attacked, escaped by whiskers

The Enugu State Police Command on Friday paraded the suspected
killers of two Catholic priests of Enugu Diocese as another escaped
assassination by unidentified gunmen.

Reverend Fr. Paul Offu and Fr. Clement Ugwu were killed on
August 1 and March 14, 2019 respectively by suspected gunmen.

While Fr. Offu was killed by Fulani Herdsmen on August 1, 2019
along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state,
Rev. Fr. Ugwu Parish priest of St. Mark Catholic Church, Obinofia
Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the State was kidnapped
and killed on March 14, 2019.

The police also paraded the suspected kidnappers of the
traditional ruler of Obom-Agbogugu, Awgu Local Government Area of
state, Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife who were kidnapped on Sunday
August 3, 2019 along Enugu – Port-Harcourt Expressway.

Meanwhile, barely two weeks Fr. Offu was killed another Priest,
Rev. Fr. Chimezie Ani was attacked and escaped by whiskers on
Thursday along Ugwuomu road after Caritas University.

The gunmen who was said to have been chasing another vehicle
when Fr. Ani’s car ran into them, had his vehicle pelted with
bullets and windscreen shattered.

Fr. Ani who spoke to reporters thanked God for his mercy and
protection that he was able to escape unhurt from the
assailants.

According to him: “the attack happened after Caritas University
towards Ugwuomu that I ran into them firing at the SUV in my
opposite direction but miraculous I drove on my reverse for a very
long distance before turning.”

Confirming the incident to Saturday Punch, the Director
communications, Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi
said, “yes the incident happened along Ugwuomu road as you heard.
We are very grateful to God that he was not harmed, he was able to
navigate on reverse to a safe distance.”

The Police Commissioner, Suleiman Balarabe who paraded the
suspected killers of the priests alongside other 30 suspects, who
were arrested for various criminal offences said that the command
has devised measures to protect Catholic priests from such incident
in the future.

He said that one Ibrahim Adamu 25yrs from Taraba state and Idris
Tobe 28yrs were arrested in connection with the killing of Fr. Offu
while three other suspects are still at large.

The Commissioner also said that one Idris Umaru was arrested for
the kidnap and murder of Secretary of Uzo-Uwani local government
area, who killed in March 2019.

On the kidnap of Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife the Commissioner
said that three suspects, “Garba Basulugu, Mohammed Lagu and
Mojunpan Duna were arrested in connection”.

While fielding questions from journalists, Balarabe promised
that those who attacked Fr. Ani would soon be arrested as his men
were already after the hoodlums.