Masquerades on rampage attacked a Church, City of Living Grace Chapel,
in Idu Uruan, Uruan local government area, Akwa Ibom State, and
destroyed the church’s properties, beat up some members and stole the
phones of others.
It was gathered that the masquerades, who were
purportedly grieved that the pastor of the Church, Apostle Emmanuel
Etim, had repeatedly preached against the practice of terrorising the
citizens during the Ekpo masquerade festival, were led by a group of
touts to attack the Church.
A member of the Church, Ms
Mboutidem Sam, who spoke with our correspondent in Uyo said the Church
was observing a month long fasting and prayer service when the incident
happened.
She said it was possible that the attack was due to
the fact that their pastor has repeatedly preached against the fear of
Ekpo masquerades and their activities, adding that the masquerades must
have decided to physically attack the church as a result of their failed
death threats to the church members.
Sam said the masquerades
attacked the church twice on the same day. She said at first, some
touts entered the church premises and destroyed the speaker outside and
put off the generator and later returned in a large number with some
masquerades.
According to her, they entered the church and
started beating up people, destroyed church properties and in the
process many members lost their phones, adding that many people were
injured. She said the masquerades also attacked a motorcyclist, who
brought a member to the church, and the man ran into the church with
blood dripping from his head, causing many members to scamper for
safety. She stated that though nobody died, one of the injured persons
was rushed to the hospital but has been discharged.
She,
howeve,r she said was not aware if the authorities of the church has
reported the incident to the Police. “They stole phones from the pastor
and some choristers. So many people lost their property.
“The
car of one of our pastors was vandalised, that was the only car that was
destroyed. People were still coming to Church when the incident
happened. The attack would have been very severe than that if the Church
was filled,” she stated.