God, Let This Be False!

Comfort Obi

I know I am not a Roman Catholic. I am proudly of the Anglican Communion. But I am devastated by the story of this Rev. Fr. who is being connected with kidnapping. There is something about those wearing the Cassock. You trust them. You confide in them. You tell them the truth. When temptations come, like claps of thunder, you run to them. You ask them to intercede before God for you. And you take what they tell you as Gospel truth.
I know some so-called men of God, especially, some of the new-wave Pastors from new-wave churches have abused this sacred calling. They have involved themselves in all kinds of unbelievably atrocious activities. They deceive people. They are false prophets. They fake miracles. They dupe people. They steal from the poor. They tell lies using God’s name. They have commercialised the church.
I know that even Priests are not immune to temptations. Yet, there are stories one reads and/or hears about a Priest, especially, from the conventional churches, and one just says “God forbid.” Like this one involving Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okenyi, which found ample space in all the national dailies of May 25. I believe you have read it. But for the purpose of this write-up, I will do a re-cap, using The Punch as a guide.
Okenyi is a Roman Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Nsukka. According to reports, he has been arrested for getting involved in kidnapping. Entitled, Catholic Priest Kidnaps Woman, Demand N4m Ransom, The Punch told a story that should make every Christian nervous. And ask how a man whose job it is to give succour to souls became a tormentor of souls? Here is the story.
Mrs Lorretta Okenyi was driving home on Friday, May 22, when some gun-totting young boys blocked her car, dragged her out, quickly dumped her in their own car, and drove off. Her husband, Remigus Okenyi, a big dealer in oil, was in his business premises when he was called, and the news broken to him. Frantically, he called his wife’s mobile number; it rang, without an answer. So, he drove home, and was confronted by the abandoned car. Dear Readers, you must have been wondering about the surname. Wonder no more. The victim's husband is the Priest's uncle. Meaning that the kidnapped woman is the Rev Fr’s niece – in-law!
Lost in thought, Remigus Okenyi was wondering what to do when he received a phone call from mobile phone number: 07088619479. The caller asked him to part with the sum of four million Naira, and get his wife back. He was warned, as usual, not to go to the police. He agreed, but did the opposite. He reported to the police, and gave the GSM number from which he was called. The police took note, traced the number, and, unbelievably, it allegedly turned out to be that of the Rev. Fr. For two days, the police could not see him. But he was, allegedly, arrested as he walked into a police station to make a report. According to The Punch, the Divisional Police Officer, Ike Mba, in charge of Nsukka Urban, confirmed the arrest, while a police source allegedly revealed that the Rev. Fr had confessed to the crime, and made useful statements. The woman has since been released based on, I guess, the useful statements.
I am in self-denial. I don’t want to believe this story, and I have caught myself saying to nobody in particular: “God, let this story be false.” It has to be for some of us to maintain a level of sanity.
Why would a Roman Catholic Rev. Fr., who listens to people confess to their sins, get involved in this atrocity? If we cannot trust our priests, who can we trust? Who do we run to in times of difficulties, and temptations? Who will pray for us? True, I don’t want to believe this story. And, I see some grey areas which need to be cleared.
First, it does seem that Remigus Okenyi did not know the phone number of his cousin, the Priest. It took the police to, allegedly, tell him. The interpretation is that there is no-love-lost between both cousins. Question: Between them, who is trying to undo the other? Is this a set-up, or is it real? Secondly, why would the priest allow the kidnappers to call the victim's husband, using his own phone? Is he that dumb? Thirdly, according to the The Punch (which, I must add, did not quite tally with the reports of the other dailies), the person who called the victim’s husband asked him if he had any problem with the Priest. Why would the caller ask that question? That is like easily giving the Priest away, and exposing the whole plot? Were they that eager to be arrested? It is too smooth. And there is this little bit too. This kidnapping happened after members of the Roman Catholic Church embarked on a protest demanding the removal of the DPO, alleging an unusual increase in crime in the area, and hinting at police connivance. Why the coincidence? The police debunks this, and insist the protest was political; that it is because the DPO refused to be used by politicians to foment trouble. Who are the politicians, and what did they ask him to do?
There are two versions of how the Rev. Fr., was arrested. One version says he went to submit a protest letter against the DPO. Another says he went to tell the police that he was being deliberately roped into Mrs Okenyi’s kidnap. What is the truth? Giving the Rev. Fr. a clean bill, the Personal Secretary to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Rev. Fr., Cornelius Obe, alleged that the Priest was framed by his cousin “to settle a long-standing score he has with the Roman Catholic Church, and in particular, Rev. Fr. Okenyi?" What is this score? But the police put a lie to that claim, and insist that the Rev. Fr. had made confessional statements, and admitted to the crime. They insist that it was based on his tips that the victim was released. Why would the police insist on these if there is no truth in them?
This case is too sensitive to be swept under the carpet. It touches on people’s faith. Mohammed Zarewa, the Enugu State Police Commissioner, promises a thorough investigation. It is important, especially for our sanity.