Reverend father Lucius Ugorji, the Bishop of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, has said the church leadership sincerely regrets the shooting to death of a boy by a Catholic priest in Imo State.
NewsBand reported that the Catholic priest, Joseph Enyiaka, allegedly shot the boy dead after he set off knockouts within a church premises.
The incident occurred during a Holy Mass celebration, marking the crossover to the New Year 2025 at St. Columba Parish Amaimo, in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr Ugorji said apart from the deceased, one person was wounded during the shooting.
“The Archdiocese of Owerri condoles with the bereaved family, and prays for the happy repose of the dead, and the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
However, he called for calm considering that police were already investigating the incident.
The spokesman of the command in Imo State, Henry Okoye, said an investigation has been launched into the ugly development.
“We have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident.
“Further development on the case will be communicated in due course, please,” the police image maker stated.
