The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has strengthened security in parishes following series of robbery incidents in parishes and church institutions in the archdiocese. Priests  have been on alert as men of the underworld seemed to have sworn to make the rectory their primary target.  Within the past three months, robbers have attacked not less than six parishes in the Archdiocese. Just last week, a car belonging to one of the newly ordained priests was snatched at gun point.  Investigations however revealed that the serial robbery attacks have been targeted mostly at the clergy working in Mbaitoli zone of the Archdiocese.  Apart from Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku,  Immaculate Heart Akwakuma, St. Joseph’s Ulakwo and St. Anthony’s Parish Inyishi, which were visited earlier in the year, all the four parishes and their priests attacked between mid-June and July are in Mbaitoli zone

The first in the series of attack took place on Sunday, June 16 when the hoodlums descended on the parish priest of St. Hilary Amaukwu Orodo.  The priest told THE LEADER that the robbers trailed him to his bedroom at about 11pm; ransacked the entire parish house for more than three hours, carted away every valuable that belonged to the priest and gave him the beating of his life. The priest in question has been in hospital till the time of press.

Next on the robbers’ list was St. Mary’s Ubomiri on Sunday, June 23, a week after Amaukwu, Orodo was touched. Their efforts were thwarted when the parish priest alerted the security operatives.

The assistant parish priest of St. Peter’s Awo Mbieri had his own share of the experience.  Robbers trailed and snatched his Toyota Camry car at gun point as he was about to enter the parish house on Wednesday, July 3.  Speaking to THE LEADER, the visibly shaken priest narrated how the robbers followed him on a bike from Nworieubi junction that evening.

He said the armed robbers were three in number. While two alighted from the bike and harassed him, threatening to shoot if he failed to surrender the car, the other sped off on the motorcycle.  They eventually succeeded and zoomed off with the car which has not been recovered till the time of filing this report.

The latest robbery attack was at Stella Maris Parish Orodo.  At exactly 12.06am on Monday, July 8, the gang of about seven robbers descended on the rectory.  According to the parish priest, the measures they took to gain entrance into the Father’s house convinced everyone that they were ready for a showdown.  The robbers stormed into the parish house and tied all the security men to a stake.  Since they could not gain access into the Father’s house through the entrance because of heavy burglarproof, they hacked through the wall.  The robbers spent about thirty minutes with the senior priest ransacking his room and making away with valuable belongings before taking their exit through the entrance of the parish house.

Expressing shock over the incidents, Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Ibeole Vicar General of Owerri Archdiocese said “the Archdiocese can no longer keep quiet and watch her priests molested by hoodlums”. In a chat with The Leader, Fr. Ibeole lamented that some people are no longer afraid to tamper with men of God. He said that “the rectory is a sacred place and must be protected”. The Vicar General maintained that appropriate measures are being taken to beef up security in parishes. He also said that Christ’s faithful must continue to pray for the conversion of criminals in the society.

Parishioners of St. Hilary Amaukwu, Orodo on Friday, July 3, 2013, embarked on a prayer rally and penance seeking God’s intervention.  The men, women and children all clad in black prayed the Rosary and called on God to intervene in the ugly situation.

Speaking to THE LEADER Mr. Matthew Elebor, Chairman of the Parish Council confirmed the robbery and wondered why the house of God would become a place where hoodlums would carry out their nefarious acts.  He said the rally was their way of registering their feelings over the incident and pleading with God to intervene by touching the lives of the robbers.

Our reporter however gathered that the people of the area suspect that the hoodlums or those who aided them are not far from the community.

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