Confusion over Uche Nwosu’s whereabouts; Uzodimma is after my family – Okorocha; The guilty are afraid – Uzodimma

There were conflicting reports Monday concerning the whereabouts of Uche Nwosu, son-in-law of former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha who was arrested Sunday by security agents.

While some said he had been released from Police detention, a credible Police source said he was still in custody following his arrest from the St Peter’s Church Eziama Obaire, in Nkwerre Local Government Area, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop, Anglican Province of Owerri, Most Rev. Dr. David O. C Onuoha, has condemned the storming of the church by armed security officials to effect the arrest of Nwosu.

A story quoting a statement on Monday, by the Special Adviser to Nwosu on Media, Nwadike Chikezie, said Nwosu had been released and did not spend the night in detention. Our source, however, said that the story of the release of Nwosu was part of Okorocha family’s propaganda, insisting that Nwosu was still in custody.

Senator Okorocha had alleged that the arrest of Nwosu, is part of an alleged political vendetta by the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Hope Uzodimma against his family.

But in a swift reaction, Governor Uzodimma had accused Okorocha of politicizing a strictly security matter, noting that if Okorocha and members of his family have nothing to hide, they should wait for the due process of the law to take its course, stressing that the guilty are afraid.

In a televised interview, Okorocha had alleged that the dramatic arrest of Nwosu is an extension of the battle the incumbent is waging against his family, pointing out that although the state Commissioner of Police had told him that the team that arrested Nwosu did so on orders from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), he believed that the IGP had been misinformed by Uzodimma resulting in the IGP’s directive.

But reacting, also via a televised interview, Declan Emelumba, the State’s Commissioner of Information said that Okorocha is in a panic mode because he and his family have things to hide.

Emelumba, who distanced the incumbent Governor from the travails of Nwosu, stressed that Okorocha and his family should be hiding their heads in shame in view of the extent of the state’s commonwealth that they looted while Okorocha was in office.

He insisted that the arrest of Nwosu had nothing to do with Uzodimma as a person but noted that Okorocha and his family should patiently wait for the law to take its cause, stressing that if the Police had a reason to arrest Nwosu, they should do so since he is not above the law.

Archbishop Onuoha, who said in his statement, dated December 27, 2021, that the Church is in support of the efforts of the security agencies in their daunting task of securing lives and property and bringing perpetrators and sponsors of crimes, however highly placed, to book, however warned that acts such as the storming of the Nkwerre Church by the security personnel was capable of worsening the security challenges being currently faced in the state.

Full text of Archbishop Onuoha’s statement

Re: Desecration of St Peter’s Church Eziama Obaire.

It was a black Sunday yesterday December 26 2021 as armed men in uniform invaded St Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State and roundly desecrated God’s sanctuary. The officiating priest had barely concluded the celebration and administration of the Holy Eucharist, ready for the end of year thanksgiving, when armed men stormed the church. The Nigerian Police latter explained that it was for the purpose of effecting an arrest.

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 disorganized 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.

The sporadic gunshots outside the church building sent worshippers scampering in different directions, signaling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.

While the church is in support of and have always  been praying for the success of our security personnel in the daunting task and challenge of securing lives and property in our dear state and every effort at bringing the perpetrators/sponsors of this crime against humanity to book no matter how highly placed, we warn that such acts as the one in issue are capable of worsening the security challenges we are currently facing.

The Church will in the next few days engage the Nigerian Police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind this dastardly act and how to avoid a repeat occurrence. While this process is on, we urge all Christians to continue in prayers for God’s mercy on all of us and peace in our land.

Most Rev Dr David O. C Onuoha

Archbishop, Anglican Province of Owerri.

(Feast of St John the Apostle, 27th December 2021).