The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, has expressed dismay over the incessant abduction and killing of Catholic priests across the country, emphasizing that by killing a priest, they had killed Christ the second time.

 

Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, while speaking on the state of the nation, said it was clear that unscrupulous elements were behind the act, noting that war had been declared against the Mother Church in Nigeria, with Catholic priests, religious and laity, as their major targets.

 

The prelate expressed displeasure with the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government of Nigeria over the plights of Catholic priests, religious and laity, noting that it was no longer news that some people, somewhere were scheming and carrying out evil against the Universal Church.

 

He stated that with the continued abduction and killing of Catholic priests, one would conclude that there was a grand plan to silence Christ’s followers in the country, saying that they would not be cowed or intimidated.

 

Bishop Ezeokafor said that Governor Soludo’s intervention at the collapsed portion of Amansea and Amawbia axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway had brought a lot of relief to commuters and transporters.

 

According to the bishop, commuters plying the Amawbia axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Express Road have started heaving a sigh of relief now that the Anambra State Government, under Professor Chukwuma Soludo is reconstructing failed portions of the road, saying that it is a welcome development.