Cleric sues for peace, unity as town marks one year of Ozubulu massacre

A Catholic priest at Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State, Rev Dr. Jude Onwuaso, yesterday sued for peace, love and unity among the people of Ozubulu, urging all to ignore the past and look ahead to the future.

The occasion was to mark the one year remembrance of the August 6 massacre in Ozubulu community where over 15 people lost their lives to a trigger-hungry assassin.

The church service was attended by many people from all walks of life including some Nollywood actors like Chief Pete Edochie, Chinyere Wilfred, Bob Manuel Udokwu, Rita Edochie, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, several politicians, and traditional rulers among others.

Also present at the service was the benefactor of the church, Chief Aloy Ikegwuonwu, whose father was also killed during the massacre.

In his homily, the parish priest, Rev Dr Jude Onwuaso, recounted the ugly experience of that day, adding that God had shown the people love since the incident. He said: “As human beings, we should love and forgive one another. The ugly incident of last year should not repeat itself again.”

While recalling what happened on the day, the priest said many people scampered for their lives, many sustained serious injuries as they struggled to escape from the church, “but we continued reciting I believe in one God, which the congregation chorused amen”, adding that the town was almost deserted.

“As soon as I began the introduction prayer of the faithful, some huge sounds like volcanic eruption echoed and filled the church, there was confusion. At the end, people were wailing from every corner of the church and community as the church was covered with the pool of blood.”

The priest, however, thanked the parishioners, police and voluntary bodies that came to the aid of those injured as they conveyed both the dead and the wounded to hospital and the morgue.

He also commended the government and society at large for sympathizing with them, adding, “I am deeply touched by God’s care and love this last one year.” He further condoled with the families that lost their loved ones and the injured, asking them to bear the loss with fortitude.