By DADA AYOKHAI
House Committee Chairman on Basic Education and Services and member representing Owan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon Prof Julius Ihonvbere, has expressed deep shock, disgust and sadness over the last Sunday abduction, and subsequent murder of Rev Fr. Christopher Odia, the Parish Administrator of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ikabigbo-Uzairue, in Etsako West Local Government Area.
In a condolence message to the Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Rev Dr Gabriel G Dunia, the Ogbona community where the late Cleric hails from, the Ikabigbo community, his last place of Priesthood, and to the Afemai people at large, and made available to the Press by his Senior Aide on Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Joshua Iraoya, Prof Ihonvbere described the heartless murder of the young Priest as a bitter pill too difficult to swallow, especially against the backdrop of the fact that life was gruesomely snuffed out of Fr Odia in his prime, when his services to God, the nation and humanity at large were in most dire need.
The Rep Member noted that it is really sickening to note the increasing level of insecurity that has continued to pervade all nooks and crannies of Afemai land, especially in the recent times, which has made life unbearable to residents in the locality.
While also condoling with the people of Ikabigbo community over the painful loss of the Chairman of the community’s local vigilante group, Dr Nurudeen Umosor, who in an attempt to save Fr Odia from his abductors, mobilized his men and gave his abductors a hot chase only for him to lose his life in the process.
He however commended other team members of the vigilante for their gallantry, who, despite the loss of their team head, remained undeterred and continued the pursuit of the intruders, an effort which paid off with the successful arrest of two of the Rev Fr Odia’s abductors.
He urged all communities in Afemai land and their vigilante teams to continue to maintain a high level of vigilance at all times in order to put the activities of criminal elements under constant check.
While praying God to grant the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi and all other Catholic faithfuls, the immediate families of the deceased and their communities the fortitude to bear the losses, Ihonvbere prayed for the repose of their lost souls in the Lord’s bosom.
