Police arrest 4 Catholic reverend fathers in Imo state

Four priests of the Roman Catholic Church have been arrested by the officers of the Nigerian police in Imo state for reportedly masterminding the protest that turned violent in the state.

The police authority said Danjuma Ragga, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ahiazu Mbaise, was shot during the protest on Saturday, according to Punch.

The DPO was said to have been shot by irate youths from the church, a statement by the state police public relations officer, Mr Andrew Enwerem, said.

The statement added that the vicar-general of the Ezinihite Diocese of the church, Reverend Father Clement Ebii, had hosted the national president of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) of the Saint Rose Catholic Church and that this sprang up the protest. The police said immediately the information of the event was made known, the youths, who gathered at the Mater Ecclesiae Catholic Cathedral in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area, gathered themselves and rushed to the parish to stop it. The irate youths set up bonfires, barricaded the highway, and disrupted the peace of the town, the report said. Ragga, who got wind of the development, was said to have drafted a team of policemen from the division to help douse tension since the church was already looking at their grievance.

Allegedly led by a reverend father, the youths hauled missiles at the police and the DPO and threatened to burn down police patrol vans with which the officers came as well as disarm the police officers. The DPO was later allegedly shot on the leg and hand during the protest. Commissioner of police in the state, Taiwo Lakanu, while speaking on the incident, said: “I assure you that all those involved in the shooting of the DPO will be fished out and prosecuted.

“I hereby order that the cathedral be put under lock and key to avoid further violence.”

Source: Punchng