Gunmen have shot an assistant parish priest of Saint Kelvin Catholic Church, Ogbaku, in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. The priest, whose identity has not yet been officially confirmed, was reportedly shot at about 8 a.m. on Christmas Day while approaching the church gate to celebrate the morning Mass.A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the priest was hit in the right hand and that no assailant was seen at the scene.
According to the source, the shot appeared to have been fired from a concealed and distant location, making it difficult for anyone around to identify who carried out the attack.The injured priest was rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment. Prayers are said to be ongoing for his recovery.
“The shooting happened on Christmas Day when everyone was in a joyful mood. The priest was trying to enter the gate for the morning Mass when we suddenly heard a sound, and the next thing, he was in pain after being shot,” the source said. “It may have been a stray bullet from somewhere nearby, but the strange thing is that nobody saw who fired the shot. Meanwhile, the priest is being treated for a gunshot injury in the hospital, and prayers are ongoing for his survival.”
The spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident but said it had not yet been formally reported to the police.“Yes, I am aware of the incident, although the church is yet to officially report the shooting. However, the Divisional Police Officer for Owerri West has visited the church to verify the claims and has requested to see the priest to assist the investigation,” he said.
He added that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Catholic Archbishop of the Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, also confirmed the incident but noted that the identity of those responsible remains unknown.
