Catholic priest arrested for shooting boy dead over new year celebration in Imo

The Parish Priest of St. Columba Catholic Church in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev. Fr. Joseph Enyiaka, is cooperating with the State Police Command to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death of a gunshot victim in the community.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the development in a brief statement. “Yes, a detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident,” he stated.

“Further development on the case will be communicated in due course, please.”

However, a villager who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity said: “What started like a usual New Year celebration, sadly turned into a tragedy, as our Parish Priest, reportedly shot a young boy in the church compound.

“There was the usual midnight Mass scheduled in the Parish that night. For inexplicable reasons, a good number of people stormed the church compound with all manner of explosives.

“The explosions were not only so much that it was difficult to properly ascertain what was being exploded, but also sent palpable fear in the congregation.

“Sensing a probable worse scenario from what was playing out, picked up his arm in readiness.

“Although I cannot say what happened before the priest fired a shot, everything changed when news of the death of a boy rented the air.

The Eucharistic Celebration ended abruptly and the worshippers scampered to safety.”

Answering a question on the relationship between the priest and the community, the villager said: “He is quite a jolly good fellow. He has done so well in our Parish. He has completed and dedicated our Parish church.

“The cleric celebrated the silver jubilee of his ordination as a Catholic priest, the previous day, before this tragedy.”

Efforts to get the Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan angle to the story failed, as no feedback was received at the time of going to press.

Vanguard gathered that the remains of the boy had been deposited in a morgue, in a neighbouring community, while the police investigation is continuing.