It was gathered that Rev. Isaac Umurie, one of the priests attached to St. John’s Anglican Church, Okpare-Olomu, was hacked to death in his sleep in the early hours of the day by his 28-year-old son, Ufuoma Umurie.

It was learnt that the incident occurred around 2am with the mother narrowly escaping being butchered alongside the reverend.

The suspect allegedly chased his mother while she was attempting to save the life of her husband but narrowly escaped unhurt.

Ufuoma, who is presently in the police net, was said to have used a cutlass to hack his father’s skull and other parts of his body while asleep before neighbours and church members could gain access to the apartment.

Although what led to the incident was still scanty as of the time of filing this report, multiple sources in the community alleged that Ufuoma was mentally unstable and that it was the second time that the suspect would be attacking the father.

It was, however, gathered that in the horrific incident, the suspect was overpowered, apprehended and handed over to the police at the Otu-Jeremi Divisional Headquarters.

Commenting, one of the sources said, “This is the second time Ufuoma is attacking his father. The other time, he beat him, and the Okpare-Olomu vigilante held him.  But the father pleaded that he should not be taken to the police station. We heard that he is not mentally stable.

“The priest has a few years to retire. He was brought closer home because of his retirement before this unfortunate  incident.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident. “The suspect is already in police custody and he would be prosecuted for the crime,” Edafe said.

“I have toured a number of development projects established by the Diocese and read about others in the Bishop’s report and I am very impressed. My brother Bishop Amos Magezi is a visionary leader. I encourage you to give him all the support he needs to achieve his dreams for this young Diocese.” Archbishop Kaziimba.

The Archbishop made the remarks while addressing stakeholders of the Diocese of North West Ankole at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Ibanda today as he concluded his two days official pastoral visit in the Diocese.

He charged the stakeholders to ensure that the Diocese continues to establish income-generating projects and to have all Church land titled.

“Our Church land is vulnerable if it remains idle and untitled. Ensure that every piece of land we have has a land title. Plant trees along all its boundaries and never let anyone use Church land without a written agreement. On baptism and confirmations, a tree should be planted for each candidate. In so doing, we shall protect our land, conserve the environment and generate income.” Archbishop Kaziimba guided.

He called for faithfulness and integrity while dealing with Church money and assets and appreciated the Diocese for supporting the Province by remitting their quota on time.

He thanked the Diocese for establishing the Ibanda North West Ankole Diocese (INWAD) SACCO which he launched and joined on Sunday evening. He called upon members and friends of the Diocese to join and support the SACCO.

Archbishop Kaziimba charged clergy and other Church ministers to prepare for retirement when it’s still early though joining savings and insurance schemes.

Bishop Amos Magezi said the Diocese is mainly focusing on mission, social-economic and community engagement, and institutional development.

“The lockdown was announced when the Diocese was two years. This somehow slowed down the speed of growth and development of a young Diocese. The good news is that this came after we had just launched a 10-year Diocesan strategic development plan (2019-2028) with an overall goal of laying a strong foundation for sustainable holistic transformation.” Bishop Amos Magezi said.

On mission focus, Bishop Magezi said, in the last five years, they have deliberately, intentionally, and aggressively done great work in evangelism and discipleship in order to grow the Diocese numerically and spiritually.

“11627 members have been baptized, 6440 members confirmed, 626 wedded in the Church, 32 new Churches have been planted, 13753 households, 5 new Parishes, and two new Archdeaconries have been inaugurated and every year we conduct pre-Easter and pre-Christmas missions at parish levels and other levels.” Bishop Amos Magezi.

He said, the Diocese received 10 heifers from Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and established a dairy farm at Rwobuzizi Parish, purchased a coffee factory and acquired a land title for it, and mobilized households to grow coffee (planted 30,000 seedlings), and the Diocese established four coffee demonstration gardens and planted 10,000 seedlings on Church land.

During his pastoral visit, the Archbishop commissioned St. Peter’s Church of Uganda Kijongo Parish on Sunday where he led a holy communion service before commissioning the Ibanda North West Ankole Diocese SACCO.

Today, he broke the ground for the construction of Ibanda Sunrise Plaza, a proposed four-storied commercial building in Ibanda town along Main Street to generate income for the Diocese.

He also visited Ibanda University’s Directorate of Graduate Studies and Training in Kyarukobwa and Ibanda Mission Health Centre III before addressing the Diocesan stakeholders at St Paul’s Cathedral, Ibanda.

The Archbishop was accompanied by Canon Dr. Ruth Senyonyi the Provincial Mothers ‘Union President who commended the work done by the Union through prayer and establishing godly families. She asked Fathers to utilize a similar approach for the families to be safe havens for all.

Sadiiki Adams

Communications Officer

Church of Uganda

asadiiki@churchofuganda.org

Our correspondent in the Diocese of Orlu reported that Rev Chukwuemeka Mmerenu was at the early hours of Tuesday, 14th September 2021 murdered in cold blood right inside the parsonage of Church of Redemption, Okuru in Orsu L. G. A. Imo State. His Vehicle parked in the Church Compound was also burnt down.

Rev. Emeka, who was a Citizen of Nkwerre and doubled as both the Resident Priest of Anglican Church of Redemption, Okuru and Principal of Trinity Secondary School, Orsuihiteukwa in Orsu Local Government Area and of Anglican Diocese of Orlu was alleged to have been killed by members of the ESN (Eastern Security Network) following unclear insinuations that he had a parley with men of the Nigerian Army.

Close source had it that the hoodlums suspected to be ESN had seized his phone the previous day being Monday when he went to bring the WAEC Supervisor assigned to his School so his students could write the English language scheduled for the day. It was said that the military also stormed and searched the school premises during the examination same day after a very prolonged gun-battle with men of the ESN.

A senior member of the church in Orlu Anglican diocese who preferred to be anonymous confirmed the incident to our correspondent. The priest’s car was set ablaze by purported members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who sprayed bullets in the air, as they sped away.

He told our correspondent that the diocese had been thrown into a morning mood.

The police spokesperson in the state, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the murder incident and added that investigation had commenced with the intention of arresting the perpetrators of this barbaric act.

Efforts by ACNN to reach the Diocesan as at the time of this report is yet to be positive as he isn’t picking up his call nor responded to text message.