NEWS DIGEST- In the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, a religious program held by the Mgbalukwu community was disrupted by unknown gunmen who opened fire, leaving five people hospitalized. Led by Prophet Okunerere, the program was held after members of the community invited the man of God to seek solutions to their alleged catastrophes and stagnation.
The spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, Onome Onovewakpoyeya, did not confirm the occurrence, while Rev. Scamb Nwokolo, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), claimed that he had not received any complaints on the matter.
However, the Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is investigating the situation that occurred on September 10, 2023. According to Saturday Sun, the five victims were injured after suspected assailants invaded the Onwonwiya market square where the crusade was taken place.
Before the attack, the Christian believers at the religious program stated that they were not concerned about any problems. Three of the casualties were transferred to Sudan Mission Hospital in Iboko, the Council’s headquarters, for treatment, while two others with serious cases were referred to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki (AE-FETHA).
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The incident was allegedly orchestrated by a cleric from the Mgbalukwu community in response to his complaint that a man of God from another village, Ndieoke Inyimagu, was brought for the crusade instead of an indigenous minister. Village Chairman, Monday Nkwegu, said that the decision to hire Prophet Okunerere was made by the community’s stakeholders who contributed financially to the program’s success.
Nkwegu, however, expressed shock that on the second day of the crusade, five gunmen invaded the location on a tricycle, attacked worshipers, and disrupted the event. “Everywhere was peaceful before the program. …but while everyone was busy praying, the men began shooting at us for no apparent reason.”
The leader of the local vigilante organization, Augustine Ede, disclosed that the strange movement of the attackers on their tricycle piqued his men’s interest. The security team promptly halted them at the event venue, unaware that the people were on a malicious errand. However, the intruders quickly opened fire on the innocent worshipers.
Another member of the vigilante group, Mgbage Friday, who also suffered bullet wounds, described the incident: “As vigilante members, we stopped the people to know where they were going at that period of the night between 8:30 and 9:00pm, but instead of them to identify themselves, they rather opened fire on us and along the line, shot at my two thighs.”
Another resident suggested that a pastor in the area, who was envious of the community’s decision to bring in the prophet from another location, may be responsible for the attack. According to Saturday Sun, three of the affected individuals were discharged from Sudan Mission Hospital but were held back due to their incapacity to pay the medical bill.
