Catholic Priest Narrates How Thunder Saved Colleague In The Hands Of Herdsmen

A Catholic priest, Rev Fr Christian Ele, Saturday, called on the federal government to provide adequate security in the southeast to curtail the activities of herders.

Father Ele, who spoke during a morning Mass at the chaplaincy of College of Education, Nsukka, condemned the recent attack on a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Cornelius Okoye, along Enugu-Awka road by some Fulani herders.

According to him, “Nigerians want to be assured of their security. This is becoming too much. The case of Fr Cornelius Okoye should teach people how God works His miracles.

“Cornelius was caught by the herders. They wanted to kill him gradually. They first cut a part of his hand, then feet. His head was also cut. At the time they began to cut his chest, maybe to open his heart, a thunder struck. The herders took to their heels. Fr Cornelius Okoye managed to run for survival until he got the attention of the people.

“He is still critically down, but we must give thanks to God. Let the government come up with security measures to salvage the current insecurity in the land. People should continue to observe days of the sit-at-home orders to avoid the dangers therein. It is not a good development, but we should preserve our lives as much as possible.”

Investigations by THE WHISTLER reveal that Fr Cornelius Okoye is the vicar of Saint Theresa’s Parish, Agulu, Anambra State. He was allegedly attacked at Amansea, near the bridge of Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

Fr Okoye, who rendered the account of how he survived in a voiced record, said, “I had finished my retreat. I was with my praise singer, named Favour. I finished on Thursday evening. As I was coming down to Awka, around Amansea, I started hearing gunshots targeted at my car.

“My front windscreen was being shattered. I saw seven men. They were shooting and running towards me. They carried Ak-47. They were about to catch me when I ran into a ditch. I then opened my door, and bent down with the person I was carrying. It was a voice that told us to bend down, otherwise the bullets would have consumed us.

“I was carrying the Master Jesus in my car. I had the Blessed Sacrament. Then I opened the door, and jumped into the valley. The ground was muddy. I couldn’t move because the mud got up to my waist. So they caught me, and whisked me into the forest. They were hitting me. They were angry when I told them I was a priest.

“I told them I had about N250, 000 in my car: they should take it and let me go. They told me ‘dan bru uba nka’, we don’t need your money. I told them I could transfer some money from my phone. They refused.

“Blood was gushing out of my body. I didn’t want to die where people would not locate my corpse. I was sure I was going to die.

“They made me naked. They covered my face. I couldn’t breathe. They lied me down. They put the dagger at the middle of my heart. There was a sudden thunder. I was able to see through the cloth covering my face. They fell down, and started running.

“I heard one of them say it might be the army. A voice told me to stand up and run. I began to run in the mud. I nearly fell into Amansea bridge. Then, I was shouting Jesus.

“I suddenly was confronted by some army people. They asked my name. I told them I was a reverend father. They asked if I was the one that was kidnapped. I said yes. One of them carried me on his back.

“He managed to take me to the roadside. I was still saying help when Amansea security people came to my rescue and rushed me to a hospital.”