PANIC IN OWERRI AS SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM MEMBER TRIED TO BLOW UP CHURCH CATHEDRAL

PANIC IN OWERRI AS SUSPECTED BOKO HARAM MEMBER TRIED TO BLOW UP CHURCH CATHEDRAL
Residents of Owerri, the capital of Imo State,
were thrown into panic at the weekend,
following the failed bid of a crippled beggar,
suspected to be a member of the Boko
Haram sect to set ablaze a petroleum tanker
that fell near the Asumpta Cathedral, around
the ever busy Control junction.
But in a swift reaction, the state Police
Command dismissed the existence of
members of the Islamist sect in the state,
saying that what happened was an accident.
The police also debunked speculations that
the cripple had wanted to set the church
ablaze.
However, according to witness account, the
cripple beggar, identified as Destiny, from
one of the northern states, had allegedly
scaled the fence of the Asumpta Cathedral
building with a lighter, while fire fighters
and other volunteers were battling to
prevent a fire outbreak, before he was
caught by a vigilant passerby.
“When the tanker fell while trying to
negotiate the bend, fuel started gushing out
and was flowing into the Church premises.
So, people ran out of the area, afraid that
the tanker may explode. There was
commotion and traffic gridlock at that point
and if it had gone up in flames, the casualty
figure would have been very high. But thank
God the suspect was apprehended before
he carried out his evil plan,” said the source.
But the suspect, who claimed to be a
Christian denied any connection with Boko
Haram, insisting: “I was climbing the fence
to get some leaves when the fuel was
pouring out, but some people pulled me
down and when they saw the lighter in my
pocket which I use for smoking, they said
that I wanted to set fire on the church
which is not true.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent
of Police (DSP), said the incident was a mere
accident.
“When the Police got to the place, we
searched the suspect and nothing was
found on him and he was allowed to go; no
arrest was made.”
It was just a wolf’s cry, there is nothing like
Boko Haram involvement; it was purely a
case of accident,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Owerri,
Anthony Obinna, who doubles as the Bishop
of the Asumpta Cathedral, has expressed
worry over the incessant petroleum tanker
accidents at the Control Junction.
He said the incident occurred while the
Church was holding its evening Mass. “I was
celebrating Mass when we perceived heavy
smell of fuel coming into the Church. When
we looked out, there was noise which
attracted my attention and when I came out,
I saw that a tanker had fallen and a cripple
was apprehended while he was climbing
the fence of the cathedral.”