A Catholic priest has lamented the unprovoked destruction of parts of the house of his Evangelist with an armoured tank by military authorities in Plateau State, Central Nigeria, questioning why security agents who are supposed to protect the people would act in that manner.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Wullengme, the Priest-in-Charge of St. Lawrence Catholic Independent Mission Area, Halle, Pankshin Diocese, made the claim in a video interview with Dangkat’s Planet TV Media.
“I am here just to let people know the incident that happened yesterday, especially in one of my Outstations, St. John’s Sabon Gari,” Fr. Wullengme disclosed.
“My Catechist was inside with his children, but the armour tank,” hit the building thrice
The cleric explained that: “We were going about our normal businesses, but we realised all of a sudden that there were gunshots. We were trying to understand what was going on. We started seeing people running.
He lamented that all of a sudden, “my Catechist was inside with his children, but the armour tank came here and decided to hit the building three times.”
Insisting that “They were harmless,” the priest alleged that “As you can see from the video, the building is almost collapsing.”
Screenshot of Rev. Fr. Joseph Wullengme, Priest-in-Charge of St. Lawrence Catholic Independent Mission. Credit: Dangkat’s Planet TV Media.
Further explaining the scenario of a home, with parts left in ruins, he stated, “You can see for yourselves – pots, sacks of beans, maize and other things.
“But now, as you can see for yourself, the armour tank they came here to protect us with was the same armour tank they use in demolishing this house.”
Narrating what happened to the house, the young priest said, “The security is here to protect lives and property, which is their primary aim. And I know that normally, anywhere there is a hideout of criminals, they will go and demolish it.”
Rev. Fr. Wullengme, narrates the ugly incident. Credit: Dangkat’s Planet TV Media.
“If we have any official statement,” we’ll make it public
Explaining the rationale behind the video, the Priest-in-Charge of St. Lawrence stated that he wanted the world to know what happened to an innocent man and his family before he reports to his principal, the Bishop.
“I’m making this video so that people will know what happened yesterday. I am working under somebody, which is the bishop, I’ve briefed him about it.
“And if we have any official statement that we are going to make about what has happened, whenever I meet him and we finalise on everything, we’ll let everybody know,” he maintained.
Detailing that his Catechist and family were guiltless, he questioned why their home would be hit with an armoured vehicle thrice.
“But for now, this is what I want people to know: That yesterday, my evangelist and his family were harmless.
“They were just going about their normal businesses. And when the shooting started, they ran inside and then the security men came with the armour tank, and then they decided to hit the house three times,” the priest wondered.
Screenshot of parts of the destroyed building. Credit: Dangkat’s Planet TV Media.
The young priest assured that the Catholic Church is known for peace, suggesting that, though what happened was disappointing, he prayed for an end to incidents like these.
“The Catholic Church is peaceful; Christendom is peaceful.”
“I know for a fact that the Catholic Church is peaceful; Christendom is peaceful. We welcome every human being to live with us. I don’t think we’ve ever once asked our members to go out and attack anybody,” he said.
“We pray that this actually comes to an end. Nobody is happy seeing these things happening. And I beckon on the security, we are not accusing them of anything, but that what has happened is so, so confusing because we feel that they should be the ones to protect us.”
Characteristic of the calm demeanour of a typical Catholic priest, the cleric calmly decried the apparent injustice done to a man of God while urging the security agencies to do things rightly.
“And we have so much faith in the security that anything that happens, they will protect us, and that is their primary aim. They are here to protect us. So sometimes it sounds confusing to see that the security will be the ones again demolishing our houses. It’s so, so unfortunate.
“I pray that they understand our position. I pray that they understand what we are saying. I pray they understand that we are not accusing them. But what I’m saying in essence is that the right thing should be done. Thank you so much and God bless you all,” he stated.
At the time of filing this report, both Pankshin diocese and the Nigerian army have yet to release any official statement on the claims in the video.
