Rev. Fr. Linus Okwu who is a priest of Enugu Catholic Diocese has reportedly beaten members of his parish, including women, girls, and choir members, for allegedly failing to cut grasses within the church premises, considering it unacceptable. Okwu is said to be the parish priest of St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church, Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The Nation reports that the priest allegedly flogged the parishioners, comprising mothers, young men, ladies, and teenagers. According to the report, the problem started when the enraged priest, armed with canes, interrupted a choir practice in his parish and requested an explanation on why the church field was yet to be cleared.

Dissatisfied with the answers he got, he ordered the choir members to kneel and started beating them. One of the victims who sought anonymity said she went home with bruises.

The victim further stated that the shock would continue to live with her for a lifetime.

“The Priest, who was visibly furious while addressing the choir members told us that since we hardly comply with the teaching and instruction of the church, he would apply the stick approach to ensure compliance.

“I was sitting on a row of seats where teenage members of our choir were, so, when he started flogging, I withdrew to the back seat with the hope that he wouldn’t flog adults and mothers amongst us, but to my surprise, he flogged everybody, including myself.

“When I tried to put up resistance, he told me that if my father flogs me at home when I wrong him, he also reserves the right to whip members of his congregation as the father of the church if they falter. I was badly bruised when he finished with me,” the victim said.

The Director of Communication of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Aneke, was yet to react to the incident.

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