Vanguard reports that the suspects, members of the Indigenous Christians of Umuaji, carried out the act during their special crusade.The group reportedly claimed that the burnt shrines were responsible for the backwardness of their community and her indigenes, adding that they had the approval of the natives to destroy the shrines as part of spiritual cleansing of the area.
But while Christians in the area were celebrating the destruction of the shrines, the four priests in-charge of the burnt shrines reported the arson to the police which led to the arrest of Nnaeme and members of his group.
Police spokesman in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, stated that the police has commenced full scale investigations into the “incident of burning down of different sacred shrine houses in the community as well as damaging of other valuable items at Umuaji Aguobuowa in Ezeagu local Government Area of Enugu State. He said:
“On 7/1/14 in the early hours, a group known as Indigenous Christians of Umuaji led by one Joseph Nnaeme, alias 404 gathered themselves and went on rampage during their crusade in the community and during which different sacred shrines of the community were burnt down and other valuable items damaged. Six persons have been arrested in connection with the incident just as the state command has advised members of the community to remain calm and law abiding while the investigation lasts”.
Meanwhile, the four priests in charge of the affected shrines have described the act as sacrilegious.
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