Reverend Father Linus Okwu of the Enugu Diocese has set social media abuzz after flogging choir members of St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church, Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area, for reportedly neglecting to clear the church field.
The incident happened during a choir practice session when the visibly angry priest, who came with his canes, demanded an explanation for the unkempt field.
Dissatisfied with the responses, he ordered the choir members—comprising mothers, young men, ladies, and teenagers—to kneel before he began whipping them.
One of the victims, who requested anonymity, told Vanguard her surprising experience.
“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, that he would apply the stick approach to ensure compliance.”
She added, “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.”
