The name Aloysius Ikegwuonu has been trending on social media since the devastating attack at St. Philip’s Catholic church in Ozubulu, Anambra state. After visiting the church, Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra, said the incident was the fallout of a feud between two brothers who are based abroad.
The police is currently investigating the church attack which was carried out by one gunman who had a colleague in the car to drive him away. Reports have it that the gunman had invaded the church in search of Ikegwuonu, popularly known as “Bishop”, who is said to be having a prolonged misunderstanding with a relative whose name is yet to be ascertained. Although not much is known about Ikegwuonu, there are reports that he is a drug dealer based in South Africa.
According to reports, in 2015, a gang war broke out in South Africa between two drug cartels which led to deaths of over 15 people, both in South Africa and Nigeria.
Despite the negative reputation, people in his community see him as a philanthropist. Bishop has returned to Nigeria to visit the recuperating victims in the hospital. It is not clear if he would be invited for questioning by the police to assist with his account of the story.
He is said to have tarred some roads in his community – Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area – and had also contributed to the building of St. Aloysius Church of Divine Mercy, still in Ozubulu.
