Jesus-like Image Appears In Markurdi Church (pic)

Cephas Iorhemen

Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church, Nenger, Markudi, Benue State yesterday became a centre of attraction as scores of people, Christians and Muslims , men and women, young and old, trooped there to catch a glimpse of the ‘image’ of Jesus Christ.

The church is located behind Government Model College , Makurdi , the state capital , where a bright image fell on the crucifix of Christ.

Witnesses said the image , which was a carbon copy of the structure of Christ when he rose from death after he was crucified and buried, had on its head a crown, while the entire body was glittering, like precious stone.

It was learnt that the majority of people surging into the vicinity of the church came from Mslurdi community while others were from the 23 local government areas of the state.

They were all eager to see the image themselves. It was also learnt that many Christians and non - Christians alike, on sighting the image which was accompanied by a bright light that overwhelmed the entire church, moved close to it and placed their hands on it.

They were shouting: “ Jesus save me,” “Jesus the son of God, have mercy on me.” One of the parishioners, Mr. Emmanuel Hembenkaan, told our correspondent that he was shocked when he saw the image. He said the image was seen in the church for the first time since the church was established.

Hembenkaan said the image appeared on Friday during a 3pm. prayer session known as “Devine Mercy.” When the news flittered into town on Sunday night, people rushed to the church yesterday. According to me, the image does not just appear in a place but when the people are suffering and have prayed for God’ s intervention.

When contacted, the Catholic Priest in charge of the church, Rev. Father Celestine Tyowua, declined comments. Tyowua said he would address the media after receiving approval from the Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Anagbe.

The Vicar General of Otukpo Catholic Diocese in Benue State, Very Reverend Father John Adeyi, was kidnapped in April.

His body was discovered two months later near a farmland in Obu- Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state. On May 29, Governor Samuel Ortom dedicated the state to God for spiritual rejuvenation.

Ortom said the sins of the past leaders were weighing the state down and called on the people to return to God for spiritual rejuvenation.

He regretted that the myriad of problems confronting the state could only be overcome by divine intervention and called on the people to stand firm in payers.

The governor, who said the path to economic and social recovery was in returning to God, regretted the huge debt profile of the state and said much of it was inherited from the previous administration.