Rev. Father Joseph Enyinnaya, the Catholic priest, who reportedly shot dead a boy for allegedly throwing a knockout (explosive) into St. Columbus Catholic Church at Amaimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State has been arrested.
Eyewitness account revealed that the Catholic priest brought out his pistol and shot the boy who allegedly threw the banger inside the church premises.
The incident occurred on December 31, 2024 with the police confirming the arrest of the cleric.
In his reaction, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, stressed that, “The priest has been arrested, and the body of the boy has been recovered and deposited at Atta Mortuary.”
The PPRO disclosed that a detailed investigation has been put in place to ascertain the immediate and remote factors surrounding the ugly incident.
He said, “The police investigation is expected to throw more light on the events leading up to the incident.”
The incident, which drew wide condemnation from people continue to generate tension in the community with youths making several attempts to burn down the church.
The intervention of the police which deployed several operatives to guard the church has prevented the youths from achieving their plans.
Meanwhile, the family of the offending cleric has disappeared from the church mission where they reside and members of the church have also kept away from the church for fear of being attacked by the angry youths who are still laying siege to the church.
