Irate members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday, attacked a Catholic Priest for disobeying the sit-at-home order declared in the state.
The priest, identified as Rev. Fr. Festus Eziamaka, is the vicar of St. Jude’s Parish in Nnewi.
He was attacked for attending a morning mass contrary to IPOB’s sit-at-home order.
Dissatisfied with the way the priest was manhandled, the parishioners it was learnt, challenged his attackers which result in a violent free-for-all.
A source said Eziamaka was attacked with stones and other objects, and his car damaged while he was rushed to the hospital unconscious.
Reacting, Commissioner of Police in the state, Mustapha Dandaura, said he was not aware of the development.
But a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Celestine Okonkwo (Bishop’s Secretary), in a WhatsApp message, confirmed the incident.
He said, “Our priest, Fr. Festus Eziamaka, parish vicar of St. Jude’s Parish, Nnewi, presently residing at the Bishop House, from where he shuttles every day to his duties for his parish, was attacked before 6am today on his way to say the first Mass of Ascension for his parish.
“He was attacked and shot by IPOB members who had declared no-movement today. They shot very close to his eyes and beat him up. His vehicle was badly damaged. Thank God, he was rushed to Teaching Hospital. The doctors immediately took him to the theatre.”
