The Owerri province of the Anglican Communion has condemned the invasion of the church in Owerri, to effect the arrest of politician Uche Nwosu.
The church made this known in a statement on Monday in which it said it will engage the police to find out why it desecrated the church while enforcing the arrest of the son-in-law of Imo State former governor Rochas Okorocha at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area Imo state on Sunday during a thanksgiving service.
The church affirmed that while it supports the arrest of individuals who committed crimes no matter how highly placed they are, the invasion of a church of worship by security operatives while service was ongoing was not acceptable.
Nwosu was arrested by policemen inside the church for reasons unknown but later released, an action that was reported as kidnap due to the mode of operation of the operatives.
The Archbishop of the province, Most Rev Dr David Onuoha, in the statement pointed out that the shooting of bullets and dispersing of worshippers had never been witnessed in the over 160 years of the existence of the church in the state.
Part of the statement read, “As much as we are not concerned or interested in the reason for this invasion, which is unprecedented in the more than 160 years history of the church in this state, we are gravely worried and disturbed that worshippers were greatly frightened, worried, confused and completely disorganised by the presence of heavily armed security operatives in the church service thereby disrupting the worship of God’s people.
“That the police jumped inside the church in a gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable. We are at a great loss why the police decided to throw caution to the winds and completely ignore internationally acclaimed rules of engagement and civility in this matter.”
According to the church, the sporadic gunshots outside the building sent worshippers scampering in different directions, signaling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.
Meanwhile, the Imo state government in a face saving move apologised to the public on action of the police on how Nwosu was arrested during a church service.
Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, in a statement on Monday said the government holds in high esteem the Anglican Church and the church of God in general.
The government noted that the security threats posed by the development informed the manner Nwosu was arrested.
“The Imo State Government is aware of the futile efforts by some people to whip up public sentiments against it over the arrest in an Anglican Church of Mr Uche Nwosu.
“In this regard the arrest of Mr Nwosu within the church premises could have been avoided and therefore stands condemned. While the government regrets the manner the arrest was made, we wish to emphasise that since it was purely a security matter, the full reason such an action was taken will eventually unfold and perhaps guide the public better,” it stated.
However, Nwosu’s media aide, Chikezie Nwadike, has disclosed that his principal did not spend the night in police custody. He also denied claims that Nwosu was arrested in a church because he had refused to honour several police invitations extended to him.
He challenged the police to produce proof that he was invited by the police before the invasion of the church.
“This is to inform the general public, friends and well-wishers, supporters and Sympathisers that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, who was abducted by security agencies while observing Church service at St Peter’s Anglican Church Umunwokwe Village Eziama-Obaire Nkwerre LGA has regained his freedom and released unconditionally. He never spent a Night in their custody as every effort was put in place to get him out.
“Recall the ugly incident that took place on December 26, 2021 at St Peter’s Anglican Church as security operatives swooped on him inside the church during the outing service of his mother’s burial and whisked him away amidst sporadic shootings and harassment of the congregation.
“I have spoken with him and he extended his greetings to all of us out there,” Nwadike stated.
He stressed that the invasion of the church implied that the Hope Uzodinma government lacked respect for God.