The crisis rocking the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise in Imo State went deeper last Sunday, as pro-Bishop Okpalaeke and anti-Okpalaeke priests fought to the finish at St. Brigit’s Catholic Parish, Nnarambia, soaking themselves in their own blood and vandalizing several properties of the parish.
 
It was disclosed that the fight broke out Sunday evening when Rev. Fr. Januarius Chima Ahaneku, posted to the parish, came to take over, but the out-going priest, Rev. Fr. Marcelinus Nweke and his assistant, Rev. Fr. Chamberline Irozuru resisted him.

Fr. Ahaneku and Fr. Nweke and his assistant are pro and anti Bishop Okalaeke priests respectively.

It was alleged that Fr. Aheneku arrived the parish with some youths from his former parish while Fr. Nweke invited some thugs to confront them, and terming them hoodlums and criminals.

In the ensuing commotion, the source said, the two groups descended on each other and suddenly, arms and amunitions flew from nowhere and the visitors were severely brutalized.
Fr. Nweke quickly alerted the officers from the Ahiazu police division who came and arrested the visitors, describing them as armed thugs.