The Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine T. Ukwuoma, on Thursday, paid a condolence visit to the Okafor family of Umubochi, Awo-omamma to commiserate with the family on the attack by members of the Ebubeagu Security Network.
The Bishop was accompanied by some priests of the Catholic Diocese and the Spiritan Congregation working in the community.
The Bishop was welcomed by the priests in the different parishes within the Awo-omamma community in Oru East LGA of the State.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Chidimma Okafor narrated how the killing of their 14 wedding guests were carried out.
He said that as the wedding was about to be concluded, there were sporadic gunshots and guests started running for safety.
According to Chidimma, “Some of the guests who came for the traditional wedding were killed. One of the wedding guests shot at ran into the compound bleeding and begging for assistance. He was chased into the compound by the gunmen, who pumped more bullets into his chest and he died on the spot. He would have been saved if relations were allowed to protect their guests”.
Speaking during the visit, Bishop Ukwuoma expressed heartfelt condolences to the family.
He said: “On hearing the unfortunate incident, I and the priests of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu decided to come and pay our condolences and identify with you in this moment of grief and hardship”.
He urged the family to maintain peace and avoid any form of retaliation and to place everything into the hands of God.
He also presented some food stuff, clothing material and cash gifts to the family.
Bishop Ukwuoma met with some of the kinsmen who expressed their gratitude to the Church for identifying with them in their moment of grief.
They decried the wanton destruction of lives and property that is fast becoming notorious the Orlu area.
The bishop, however, urged the government to protect the lives of the citizens and to ensure that the letting of blood in Imo State is stopped as jungle justice will take the State to nowhere.
