Suspected hoodlums have broken into a Catholic church in Owerri and made away with the Blessed Sacrament, an act church authorities say has deeply shaken the local congregation.
The incident happened at the Chapel of Adoration in St Mulumba Catholic Parish. According to a statement from the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbarah, the intruders forced their way in by tampering with the roof and entering through the ceiling while it was raining.
Once inside, they took a monstrance containing the consecrated Host regarded by Catholics as sacred prompting the church to describe the incident as a serious desecration.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the desecration of the Chapel of Adoration,” the statement said.
In response, the Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has directed parishioners to observe a week-long prayer of reparation.
The programme is scheduled to run from May 1 to May 8, with daily prayers between 4pm and 6pm.
The archdiocese also used the moment to remind priests of strict guidelines surrounding the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, stressing that it should never be left unattended and must only take place in the presence of worshippers.
The incident has added to growing concerns about security around religious centres in the area, especially given the manner in which the attackers gained access to the building.
