Edo: Community battles church over shrine

The people of Afasho near Auchi, Edo state, are set for a showdown with the Catholic Church over the alleged removal of the community shrine.

Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the shrine, named "Itsede", was said to have been removed on April 28 by members of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Afosho.

Discovering that the shrine had been removed, some members of the community descended on the church and destroyed chairs and louvres.

The shrine, which is said to be about 300 years old, was situated right in the middle of the road leading to Fugar and Agenebode in Etsako Central and Etsako East local government areas, respectively.

According to the community’s age group leader, Mr. Vincent Okhani, the problem started when Rev. Fr Michael Omomile denied some elders Holy Communion at a Sunday service because they had refused to remove the shrine.

The source said Omomile insisted that the elders would continue to be denied Holy Communion until they removed the shrine.

Irked by Omomile’s action, the elders reported the matter to the head of the community, Chief Adedio Sule.

Adedio subsequently reported the matter to the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese in Auchi, the sources said.

Adedio told NAN that Omomile had no right to deny the elders Holy Communion.

"I do not want crisis in my community which was why I took the matter to the bishop.

"That shrine has existed for many years. Even our forefathers met the shrine at that same spot. As I talk to you now, nobody knows how that shrine was removed but we know they did it like they have threatened," he said.

"Everyone has a right to religion but the Father is saying the shrine is the hindrance to the development of the community."

Omomile refused to speak to NAN on the issue, while the bishop of the diocese was said to have traveled out of town.

Why didn't the juju/shrine prevent those people from moving it?

All juju claims are false!