Parishioners of Saint Bernard’s Catholic Parish Ugueze in Effium, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have asked the Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, to release their parish Priest Rev. Fr. Timothy Ngwuta who was arrested on the allegation of promoting the crisis between Effium and Ezza communities in the State.

In a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Laity Council in the parish, Ezinna Ezakaoru and Elder David Nweke-Eze, the parishioners condemned the alleged brutality meted on the priest and appealed to the Umahi to consider the sanctity of Priesthood and release their priest unconditionally to the church.

The parishioners commended the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Rev. Peter Chukwu for canceling the protest earlier scheduled by the Catholic faithful in the State over the continued detention of Ngwuta. 

Our Correspondent in Ebonyi State, Emmanuel Nnaji, reports that the parishioners expressed their readiness to embrace peace and asked Umahi to consider the unconditional release of the priest as part of the peace processes, as his continuous detention does not speak well for the present administration in the state.