Police disrupt church service in Anambra, abduct lawyer
The Anglican faithful in Nkwelle Ezunaka community, Oyi in Local Government Area of Anambra State has dispatched a strongly worded petition to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over “the unlawful inversion and disruption” of their special thanksgiving church service on December 16, 2016, as well as the abduction of their Financial Secretary, Barr William Enwelum, by three heavily armed policemen
This came even as some civil society organisations represented by Centre for Justice, Nigeria has joined forces with the church to ensure that justice is served.
In a statement jointly signed by its parish priest, Ven. Dr Fred Nwachukwuma; Chief Eugene Okeke; Coordinator of Centre for Justice, Chief Anthony Ojemba Chigbo among others, the church said it was a brazen affront on the Church of God which the the police can’t try in the mosque.
“Without decorum, decency, respect for God Almighty, humanity and the rule of law as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), three policemen namely ASP Ologbo, Inspector Omilo and one other nicknamed Major dressed in camouflage combat gear stormed the Sacred Auditorium of St. Barnabas Anglican Church in the middle of a thanksgiving service, armed with assault rifle and abducted Barrister William Enwelum in a commando style,” they said in the petition.
Continuing they said “the policemen claimed to be acting on the directive of their boss CSP Kolo of the IGP Tactical Squad who in turn claims he was responsible only to the IG. Three questions that must be answered are: did the IGP direct this assault on the church? Was the AIG Zone 9 aware of this directive? Was the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State aware of this directive? The actions of these brutish men in police uniform must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians. We demand that these men must be made answerable to their actions and that justice be seen to be done through the unconditional and immediate release of Barrister William Enwelum. Whatever be his offences, let due process be followed.”
The church stated that theywere not told what his offence was, saying that If they were told told what his offence was, they would have on their own quietly led him out of the church and handedhim over to the police.
“And till today, we have not heard from him or the police,” the Church said.
When contacted on the telephone, the police spokesperson in Anambra, ASP Nkeiruka Nwode, hung up the phone when our reporter sort for clarifications from her on the incident. She did not also reply text messages to her phones several hours before this report was filed.
