Posted by The Champion on
FOR Catholic priests, the fear of armed robbers is the beginning of wisdom.
FOR Catholic priests, the fear of armed robbers is the beginning of wisdom.
This informs the reason why 24 newly ordained priests in Awka, Anambra State last week went into hiding. But even all the sermons and prayers that day did not deter the unwanted guests. They struck living woes and anguish in the minds of people.
Following the siege laid to the Catholic Church and the killing of a Dominican deacon Rev. Godwin Okwesili in Lagos, the newly ordained priests did not wait for a prophet to tell them that armed robbers were in the lurch, eyeing gifts and cash donated by well wishers, associates and friends at the ordination.
As at press time, the Catholic community in Isuofia, Aguata local government of Anambra State and the entire Catholic faithful are still in pensive mood as armed robbers attacked one of the homes of the newly ordained priests, Reverend Fr. Jude Amatu, carting away over 200 telephone handsets, cash and valuables belonging to guests. They struck about 10:41 p.m. Sunday, while shooting sporadically into the air.
The new priest's age grade members were celebrating their members' success when the robbers invaded.
A seminarian, Nnaemeka Akpusionu sustained a bullet wound while a member of the age grade was shot on the leg. Sunday Champion gathered that telephone handsets were also stolen from guests.
But in what seemed like a heavenly intervention, the robbers demanded from the newly ordained priest to point at his property among those they had stolen. They however, returned all his belongings and some others belongings to seminarians.
Sources at the scene of the incident told Sunday Champion that the robbers, unlike those who besieged Catholic churches in Lagos, were remorseful for inflicting injuries on people.
At other places the robbers visited, Sunday Champion gathered they were not as lucky, as the newly ordained priests had left their homes for other places.
Meanwhile, the 24 priests were ordained last Saturday by Catholic Bishop of Awka, Right Rev. (Dr.) Simon Okafor as ambassadors for the propagation of the gospel in liberation of mankind from afflictions of the evil one.
Sunday Champion learnt that following the attack on churches, the newly ordained priests were advised not to sleep in their houses to void being victims of armed robbers.