Catholic Bishop
condemns attack on Enugu mosque, commiserates with Muslim community
- The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese has condemned the
attack on a mosque in Oguurute in Enugu Ezike, Enugu state - The Bishop said
the destruction and burning of the mosque came to him as a shock - He also
enjoined all Muslims to remain calm and view the incident as an act designed to
instigate violence and disrupt the peace we have all enjoyed The catholic
Bishop of Nsukka Diocese in Enugu state has commiserated with the Muslim
community over the destruction of the central mosque at Oguurute in Enugu
Ezike. The diocese said the attack on the mosque by suspected members of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is
irresponsible and unfortunate.
Having
paid and visit to the mosque and the Imam a day after the attack, the Catholic
Bishop of Nsukka Diocese Most Reverend Professor Godfrey Onah said the attack
came to him as a shock. Onah in a statement released on Wednesday, September
20, by the press secretary to the Bishop, Reverend Father Ernest Makata, said
the Muslim community has been living in peace with its neighbours as brothers
and sisters.
He said: "We have a handful of the Muslim community in
Enugu Ezike, IbagwaAka and some other communities and never has it been known
that any rancour existed between them and any other group. Hence, this
unprecedented mindless destruction of a place of worship is not just abhorrent
but totally unacceptable and should be condemned by all.Our Christian faith
teaches us that we should love our neighbours as ourselves (Mk. 12:31)."
Therefore, do unto others as you would have them do to you (Lk.6:31).None of us
would like to witness this kind of carnage on our Churches or Shrines.
In this
wise, we cannot allow such to happen to a Mosque either. The Bishop hence
appeals for caution from all individuals and groups and think about the actual
and ripple effects of any action we undertake. Nsukka zone is known for her
peaceful and harmonious existence," Makata said.
"Therefore, no individual or group of persons should
even think of destroying this legacy.The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev.
Prof Godfrey Igwbuike Onah, while sympathizing with the Muslim community at
Ogurute and the entire nation, assures them of the support of the Catholic
Church in the diocese. He promises that the Church will do whatever is within
her power to ensure that the Moslems and the Christians will continue to live
in peace," the statement said. The Bishop further enjoined Muslims to see
the Church as partners in these trying times and socio-political upheavals in
Nigeria.
He also appealed Muslim leaders to calm their adherents and
view the incident as an act designed to instigate violence and disrupt the
peace we have all enjoyed. Read more:
"If we respond to violence, we must have given them
victory. The only way to make them feel ashamed of themselves is to plant love
and good where they plant hate and evil.Let all Christians, Muslims and African
Traditional Religionists join hands to maintain peace and order and hold on to
the highest tenets of our religions which is hinged on love for one
another," he said. NAIJ.com earlier reported that the IPOB denied reports
that some of its members were involved in the destruction and burning of mosques
in Enugu.
The IPOB while stating that it is a non-violent group described the
reports as concocted. The pro-Biafra group in its statement said the Nigerian
army's is aimed at distracting the group from its focus of achieving Biafra You
can watch this NAIJ.com TV video of a disabled IPOB member who traveled across
the country to support Nnamdi Kanu:
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