…We’re still praying for perpetrators – Bishop

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Hilary Okeke, has said that the church would continue to pray for the killers of 13 members of St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State.

He said the church was interested in the repentance of the perpetrators of the heinous act so that they do not engage in such act again.

Speaking during the condolence visit of the federal government delegation headed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, to the church, the bishop said the prayers are not to counter the efforts of security agents to unravel those behind the attack.

“As Christians, the scriptures enjoin us to pray for our enemies so that they would repent and turn away from their evil ways. Otherwise, they would continue to kill more people,” he said.

He said the Diocese has opened a bank account to which all funds for the care of the victims will be deposited for proper accountability, adding that some people have started making donations.

Expressing appreciation to the delegation for the visit, the bishop called on the federal government to assist in reducing the financial burden on the church.

Earlier, the head of the delegation, Senator Chris Ngige, said they were in the state on the instance of the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to commiserate with the church over the ugly incident.

He said although President Mohammed Buhari had already written to the state over the incident, but the acting President requested that they should be physically present to convey their condolences.

Ngige assured that security architecture had already been put in place by the federal government to fish out the perpetrators, as well as to ensure that such ugly incident does not reoccur.