By CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI—Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna, has described the growing state of insecurity in parts of Nigeria as "a deliberate but senseless siege against the country and its citizens".
Archbishop Obinna, stated this at Emekuku, Owerri North local council area of Imo State, while preaching the homily during a concelebrated Pontifical sung mass to mark 100 years of the arrival of Catholic missionaries in the Province.
Obinna was particularly irked by what he termed "the damnable activities of kidnappers, armed robbers and the Boko Haram", stressing that only recently, a member of the Obi royal family, whose forefather brought the Catholic Church to the area, was kidnapped by criminals.
While saying that corruption, robbery, kidnapping and Boko Haram are some of the crimes bedevilling our day and age, the fiery Catholic cleric however wondered if the perpetrators of these heinous crimes were stronger than the government.
"There are some people that are worse than snakes. We now live in palpable fear and this should not be the case. May the Good Lord give our leaders the grace to fight crime and criminals in this land", Obinna prayed.
On how the church had fared, Obinna said the Archdiocese had brought enormous change in the proclamation of the gospel, adding that a lot had been done in changing the mentality of the people in regard to Osu caste system in Igboland.
He commended late Eze Obiejesi Ajoku Abuba for his foresight and determination in sowing the seed of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese, pointing out that posterity will not forget him.
Vanguard Nigeria