Suspected gunmen on Christmas Day killed an assistant parish priest of Saint Kelvin Catholic Church, Ogbaku, in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
The priest, whose identity had yet to be officially confirmed as of press time, was reportedly shot at about 8am on Christmas Day while approaching the church gate for morning Mass.
A source, who identified herself as Juliet Eyon on Friday told First Daily correspondent that the priest was hit in the right hand, adding that the assailant was not seen at the scene.
According to Juliet, the gunmen appeared to have fired from a concealed and distant location, making it difficult for anyone around to identify the shooter.
The priest was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he is currently receiving medical care. Prayers are reportedly ongoing for his recovery.
The source, a member of the parish, narrated the incident, saying, “The shooting happened on Christmas Day when everyone was in a joyous mood.
“The priest was trying to enter the gate for the morning mass, but we just heard a sound, and the next thing, he was in pain, and he had been shot.
“Probably it was a stray bullet from somewhere close by but the twist was that nobody saw who fired the shot. Meanwhile, the priest is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in the hospital, and prayers are going on for his survival.”
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Confirming the incident to journalists, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Command, DSP Henry Okoye, said the matter had not yet been formally reported to the police.
He said: “Yes, I’m aware of the incident though 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. He has also requested to see the priest to aid the investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, also confirmed the shooting but said the identity of those responsible remained unknown.
Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, the Command concluded.