Days after The man mentioned as a suspect in the massacre of worshipers in St Philips Catholic church, Ozubulu, Anambra State, Aloysius Ikegwuonwu better known as Bishop has reacted to allegations that he is a drug lord.
Bishop, who is based in South Africa and was reportedly the target of the attack, which also claimed the life of his father, said he, knows nothing about the killing.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to reporters, Bishop, who is said to have single handedly funded the Ozubulu church, said he has never been arrested or convicted for any drug related offence before.
His statement said, “My attention has been drawn to a social media campaign where it is alleged that I am connected to the Ozubulu church killing over a drug problem.
“For the avoidance of any doubt I wish to inform the general public that I know nothing about the church killings and I have never been involved in drugs.
“I have never been arrested or convicted anywhere in the world. My businesses are legitimate businesses, duly registered. Apart from warehousing and wholesale of goods I am also a contractor involved in the construction of roads and infrastructure in Nigeria.
“It’s shameful that Nigerians and the media don’t verify any story before running with them.
“The handwork of those who are jealous of my success and who are determined to tarnish my image is evident.
“The Church killings is an unprecedented evil that deserves full investigation to unmask the perpetrators. “We await investigations and full police report of the church attack. “In the meantime I request all social media and media houses to retract my name from the defamatory stories linking me with the church killing.
“Failure to do so and any further linking of my name with the church killings will force me to take legal action against the purveyors of the defamatory false story.”
HERE IS MY FINDINGS
Following different versions of false news peddled by the Nigerian media and most regrettably, respected individuals, to narrate the very unfortunate incident that happened at St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, Amibo Island MeDia Teamas always, decided to take a walk down to UZubulu in order to unravel the true details of this event and how it deteriorated to the August 6 massacre.
To set the records straight, The victims, as contained in the statement, are as follows:
NAMES OF VICTIMS THAT ARE STILL HOSPITALIZED
1. Ikegwuonu Caroline
2. Nwakile Anthonia
3. Okoye Odinaka
4. Okoye Patricia
5. Isaac Chinedu
6. Oramadike Chinagorom
7. Oramadike Chinecherem
8. Udegbunam Chidimma
9. Ndulue Samuel
10. Udegbunam Obiageli
11. Ugochi Obiajulu
12. Chukwueloka Chineze
13. Oramadike Chioma
14. Azuka Basil
15. Oramadike Chiamaka
B. IN ICU
16. Uchechukwu Chukwueloka
C. IN FSW
17. Nwanya Ngozi
D. IN PAEDIATRIC SURGICAL
18. Ngwuta Chinemelum
19. Asomba Chukwudum
E. OBA TRAUMA CENTRE
20. Nnudule Leonard
F. DISCHARGED
21. Muomah Michael
22. Oramadike Favour
THE NAMES OF DEAD VICTIMS
1. Mr. Cyprian Ikegwuonu (bishop’s father)
2. Mr. Hyacinth Oramadike
3. Mrs. Cecilia Ewin
4. Mrs. Eunice Akanigbo
5. Mrs. Rose Okoye
6. Mrs. Anulika Obunadike
7. Mrs. Uchenna Obunadike
8. Mrs. Anthonia Ufondu
9. Miss Oluchukwu Uhelu
10. Miss Christiana Igbeja
11. Mrs. Udeze Pauline
12. Mrs. Victoria Uzokwe
13. Mrs. Florence Nweke
Now here is everything you ever need to know in regards to the Sunday Massacre In Uzubulu, Anambra State. Read below……
Aloysius Ikegwuonu, presently a drug baron based in South Africa, was born in 1981 to the family of Chief Ikegwuonu, Amakwa Ozubulu. He grew up in a very poor home and often helped his mother who trades at Orie Akpu market, Off Ugwu Orie Bus Stop, Amakwa Ozubulu.
‘Aloyee’ as fondly called by his friends in his early youth stage, first came to limelight in 1999 when he became the senior prefect of Comprehensive Secondary School, C.S.S., (formerly College of Basic Studies, C.B.S.) Egbema Ozubulu; a school founded by Reverend Father Nwabaju Izuchi, a United States based Catholic priest.
Right after his secondary school studies which he finished after his May/June WASSCE examination in the year 2000, he traveled out to South Africa on March 2001 where he became a multi millionaire within his first four (4) months of his stay there. He came back nine (9) months later (December 2001) and splashed his money around. This was the first major drug deal advert in Ozubulu, a land formerly known for the bravery of her indigenes, tranquility and high moral standards. (This seed Aloyee planted did not take time to bear fruits.)
With this, Aloyee attracted many friends to himself especially his school mates at C.S.S.. They indicated interest to serve him and do whatever he wants them to do as long as they will end up as ‘successful’ as he is and as quick as he made it. There was an exodus of Ozubulu youths to South Africa between the years 2004-2007. With these many people around him, Aloyee who had adopted the name ‘Bishop’ in South Africa needed someone he could trust better. He went for his best friend in the aforementioned secondary school, Ginika Nwoke.
Ginika, alias Giniyee, hailed from Mbaise in Imo State; he is an orphan and the only child of his parents. He grew up with his uncle, Ite Ego (a butcher at Orie Akpu market, Ugwu Orie Ozubulu) all through his childhood and adolescent age. He gained admission to study Psychology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in the year 2001 and was living at an unpainted two storey building, a lodge for students, about 100 meters from Unizik temporary site junction. Due to pressure from Bishop, he abandoned his university education just after his 200 level. Giniyee’s room mate at the University was Nonso Ewulu, alias Ajagara Igwe, who studied Political Science in the same university 2001-2005. Ajagara Igwe was also Giniyee and Bishop’s classmate at C.S.S. Ozubulu.
Bishop’s notorious act began with his own mother. He allegedly sacrificed his mother (who had rejected his ill wealth) to occult group. This allegation seemed more truthful when he refused to raised a stone at his mother’s grave. Bishop leveled his father’s home with an interlocking tiles months after his mother’s death and till today, you cannot identify his mother’s grave in his father’s compound.
To douse this rumor, Bishop engaged in an aggressive philanthropic aid. He renovated most churches at Ozubulu (particularly St Michael’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu) the Igwe’s palace and instituted a charity foundation. He also penetrated the state government, donates to the state police and the local vigilante groups.
These events were happening so fast, Bishop was audacious, intimidating and energetic. His friends that traveled to South Africa had started complaining about him: his intimidation and oppression; killings had started; it has become the survival of the fittest, the jungle of beasts. More than six (6) people had died, all from Anambra State in some misunderstanding between Bishop’s group of drug cartel and many more groups of drug cartel in South Africa. Even at this stage, no one took any information about Bishop so seriously. Life went on and on and on.
The peak of this crisis was in a clash between Bishop and his best friend, Giniyee. Bishop claimed he handed Giniyee a package (hard drug) to deliver to a buyer buy ended up with some cooked up stories with the intention of duping him. Giniyee denied this, but stated that Bishop’s enemy ambushed him at the point of delivery (in what seemed more like a set up) and made away with the package -a package worth hundred of millions of naira.
It got so heated that it was reported to the Igwe of Ozubulu who summoned the two with their families and pleaded for all to exercise patience till the truth be revealed. Bishop rejected Igwe’s verdict and swore that “isi ga ada” (meaning that ‘head must fall’) within some months if his money is not remitted back to him.
Few months later, the stunning news broke out, September 2015, Ginika Nwoke was shot died in the city of South Africa, the only child, an orphan with a wife and a little girl was killed. An Igbo adage says that “ihe mee onye ara, i mara na onwere mmadu” (meaning that when something happens to a mad man, you will know he has people). Mbaise indigenes made it clear that the only thing that will suffice them is a revenge, Bishop must be killed or a total war against Bishop and his kindred.
Situation started to deteriorate; between October 2015 and March 2017, Ozubulu youths were gunned down on monthly basis in South Africa. The owner of Vacarmata (located around Michael Junction, Egbema Ozubulu) Mr Obinna Ebuzeme, Mrs Nchedo (Nkwado’s wife) and many others, especially the alumni of C.S.S. have been killed.
Since then, Bishop attends occasions with over 50 security personnels, very intimidating entourage, but Mbaise indigenes had not given up. In this latest event, he came back July 2017, he is still being tracked. Investigations revealed that he was to be gunned down on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, a church he built himself, from the foundation to the roof. Mysteriously, he got the news and escaped from Amakwa at mid night (Saturday, August 5, 2017).
The killers invaded his church still assuming he was there, opened fire and killed more than a dozen people. To prove it was targeted and purposed to get at Bishop, Bishop’s father ran away the church building with a bullet shot but the killers chased after him and shot him severally to ensure he dies.
CONCLUSION
If you do not believe this piece, if you are more interested in believing that Fulani herdsmen left every other church just to attack Bishop’s church, we don’t take your imagination out.
We advice you go down to Amakwa Ozubulu and spend good time to make more investigations. If this story is true, if you don’t believe it is true, if you think our report is not sufficient and you have things to #Ozubulu Mourns