Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Onunkwo, the Orlu Diocesan Catholic priest who was murdered by his abductors after he came back from US for the burial of his father, has been buried.
The priest being laid to rest
The late Head of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Reverend Father Cyriacus Onunkwo, who was was kidnapped on Friday, September 1, 2017, at Banana Junction, Amaifeke, Orlu in Imo State, has been to eternal rest on Monday in Imo State.
While speaking at the requiem mass held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu, Governor Rochas Okorocha, described the kidnapping and subsequent killing of Onunkwo by the culprits as the height of wickedness.
The governor, however, commended the security agencies in the state for working round-the-clock to ensure that the suspects were apprehended without delay, adding that the late priest had made a great sacrifice.
He said, “Our brother has died and his death shall never be in vain. Thank God Almighty, the security operatives have captured the killers and they will face the wrath of the law. I want to commend the security agencies for a job well done.
“The Lord said, ‘touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.’ Since these people have touched the anointed and Prophet of God, the wrath of God shall visit them just like the way it visited Cain for killing Abel. Our brother has paid the great sacrifice. We pray that his sacrifice shall help us in eradicating crime in our land.”
Okorocha further consoled the Bishop, Catholic Church in Orlu Diocese and the family of the late priest, urging them to take heart.
Earlier in his sermon, the Bishop Emeritus of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Gregory Ochiagha, said those who kidnapped and killed Onunkwo did not know God, and prayed that God would touch their hearts and bring them to repentance.
He described the late Onunkwo as a priest of high spiritual standard and prayed that God grantS his soul eternal repose.
Others in attendance at the mass were the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike and Director of Department of State Services, Mr. Denga Abdullahi.