‘Desecrating church to arrest Uche Nwosu is highly condemnable’- Anglican Church

The Anglican Province of Owerri, Imo State, has condemned the arrest of Uche Nwosu at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obaire in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State on Sunday during a thanksgiving service.

The Archbishop of the province, Most Rev Dr David Onuoha said in a statement released on Monday, December 27 that the disruption of a church service by heavily armed security operatives is unprecedented in more than 160 years history of the church in the state.

Accusing the police of ignoring internationally acclaimed rules of engagement and civility, the Anglican Province of Owerri also averred that “police officers jumping inside the church in a gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable”.

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.”

Imo State government which had earlier claimed that the police had every right to arrest Uche Nwosu, has now released a statement saying it is aware of efforts to “whip up public sentiments against it over the arrest in an Anglican Church of Mr Uche Nwosu.”

The state government, which also said that the arrest of Mr Nwosu within the church premises could have been avoided, added 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.”

The statement read: “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.”