‘Bishop’ Of Ozubulu Buries Dad

Many months after the attack on worshippers at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government area of Anambra, the father of Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu was on Friday buried at the parish’s cemetery alongside some of the victims of the attack.

The father of Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu also known as ‘Bishop’ of Ozubulu, Pa Cyprain Ikegwuonu was one of the 13 victims of the attack on the church, who were killed by gunmen when they attended morning mass on Sunday 6th August, 2017.

Even though some of the victims have been buried, the burial of Chief Cyprain Ikegwuonu may have been delayed because of the high profile nature of the investigations by the security agencies into the unfortunate incident and the security concerns about reprisal attack.

The venue of the Requiem Mass was St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, which was said to have been built singlehandedly by the alleged target of the attack, Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu. The officiating priest at the Requiem Mass, Rev. Father Don Chidolue, Episcopal Vicar of Ozubulu Region who delivered the sermon, said that the church decided to bury the deceased in the church along with other victims at the church’s cemetery as martyrs. Rev. Fr. Chidolue said Pa Ikegwuonu by virtue of the nature of his death, which occurred right inside the church was a martyr. He said that 12 others who also died in the attack have also been proclaimed martyrs.

“Burying them together will serve as a memorial, and anytime someone looks in there, he would remember that such an incident had happened, and some people paid the ultimate price,”‎ he said.

However, the burial was conducted amidst tight security as the Police Command in Awka had earlier hinted that it was deploying security to the area to forestall any attack, especially as those behind the attack had sent further threat to the community if their financial demands were not met.

Those buried alongside Chief Cyprain Ikegwuonu at the cemetery are Mrs. Cecilia Ewim, Chief Hyacinth Oramadike, Mrs. Geraldine Obunadike and her daughter; Miss Uchenna Obunadike. Others are; Mrs. Pauline Obetta, Mrs. Rose Nwabia and little Miss Marycynthia Ughelu who was said to be just a year old.

P.M.EXPRESS had reported how unknown gunmen on the 6th of August, 2017, invaded St. Philip’s Catholic Church in the early hours of the day allegedly seeking the whereabout of the ‘Bishop’ of Ozubulu, Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu but decided to vent their anger on the innocent worshippers when they could not locate their target.

Not long after the attack, Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu returned to the country and had tried to clear the air denying having any business deal with anyone that went sour to have warranted being attacked. Some suspected masterminds had been in police custody and will be prosecuted at the end of the investigations into the matter.