Police arrest three masqueraders over attack on Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three masqueraders for allegedly invading and disrupting a church programme on Friday night at Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mrs  Nkeiruka Nwode, told newsmen on Saturday in Awka that the suspects attacked worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke.
“Three  masqueraders have been arrested in connection with the church attack. We have commenced investigation into the cause of the incident and would notify you when concluded,” Nwode said.
The masqueraders were celebrating a festival known as “Uzo Iyi” festival.
Nwode, however, denied that the masqueraders attacked the police officers from Special Anti Robbery Squad, who responded to calls on the breach of peace.
About 10  masqueraders  invaded the church, assaulted the worshippers and  attempted to whisk away the spiritual director of the centre, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Obimma, but for the quick response of the police.
A witness said the leadership of the church called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to help their internal security to protect worshippers.
“On arrival, the operatives arrested three masqueraders, who were involved in the attack, but their colleagues attempted to stop them from taking the arrested masqueraders away, prompting SARS operatives to shoot sporadically into the air before taking them away,” the source said
The Personal Assistant to the spiritual director of the centre, Mr Francis Okoye, told journalists that a Catholic Priest, Rev Fr. Henry Nnajiofor, a seminarian and 28 others were injured during the attack on the worshipers.
“The normal masquerade activities in Uke, to the best of my knowledge, ends by 6 p.m but as at 8 p.m on Friday, the masqueraders were still parading at the entrance route of Uke Adoration Ground, extorting money from our members and robbing others in the guise of masquerade festival.
“As at 8.30 p.m, we started receiving information that some masqueraders were attacking our members, flogging them and inflicting injuries.
“They flogged some of them, stabbed some with their weapons including machetes, while others were robbed of their mobile phones and other valuables.
“We quickly contacted the SARS office to assist our Adoration security team, who could not handle the situation at that point in time.
“When SARS arrived an hour later, they arrested two masqueraders but on their way back, the youths blocked the road and insisted that the masqueraders must be released; that was when SARS officials fired shots in the air to disperse them.
“When SARS left, they re-grouped  and this time came in their numbers to the Adoration premises, beating everybody including the elderly, the sick and pregnant women.
“Our Adoration youths, in defence, pursued them and arrested one other masquerader, who stayed in the Adoration ground with us until this morning when we handed him over to the officials of the Nigerian Army, who came to our rescue.”