“The boys were crossing Omuze to another community when they came out and ran about in the town, shooting in the air. Omuze, known for its strategic location, became the site of a deadly encounter as soldiers confronted the armed group, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers,” the source recounted the events of August 15.
In retaliation, the military returned to Umunze the next day in large numbers, initially appearing to reassure the frightened community. “They even came with some officers, commanders, and patrolled the community, buying drinks for people,” the source said.
However, the source continued, “On Sunday morning, August 18, soldiers allegedly took their operation to several churches in Umunze, disrupting Mass and terrifying worshippers.”
“The soldiers arrived at St. Joseph Catholic Church as early as 5:00 a.m., ordering worshippers to leave immediately,” the source said, adding, “When you see soldiers, military with weapons, everybody ran away, abandoning the Mass. The soldiers threatened to shoot anyone who remained inside the church.”
The soldiers then moved to St. Anthony Catholic Church, where they also disrupted Holy Mass, the source recalled, and went on to recount, “They shut the church to dismiss everybody, and those were the two major churches they targeted. They almost locked down the town because everybody was afraid.”
While no civilian casualties were reported, the psychological impact on the community has been profound, the Parishioner told ACI Africa on August 29, and added, “People in my community are presently living in fear—and some have left the community because they are not sure that this incident will not happen again.”
“This has left trauma in the minds of the people, especially the elderly who have never witnessed such an incident in their lives,” the source continued.
Efforts by ACI Africa to speak with the Parish Priests of St. Anthony Catholic Church and St. Theresa Catholic Church were unsuccessful, as both declined to comment on the situation.
In a statement, the military refuted claims of an assault on the churches, saying that the troops conducted a “cordon and search operation.”
“During the operation, the troops evacuated the people who were considered vulnerable if a shootout ensued to avoid collateral damage,” the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, has been quoted as saying.
