A Catholic Reverend Father in Nigeria has allegedly shot a boy dead after the latter set off knockouts within the a Nigerian church premises.
The incident which occurred during the New Year Mass held on January 1, 2025, in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, has attracted reactions from social media users.
In a Facebook post shared via the handle, ‘For The Love Of Anambra,’ on Wednesday, it quoted eyewitness accounts, reporting that after the deceased set off the knockouts, “the priest, whose identity remains undisclosed, picked up a firearm and fatally shot him.
“The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, with residents expressing outrage and demanding a thorough investigation to uncover the facts behind the unfortunate event.”
When contacted by newsmen on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye stated that the command is already aware of the incident.
Okoye added that an investigation has been launched into the incident.
“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 spokesperson stated in a message.
A Facebook user, Malachy Chukwunyereugo, reacting to the incident, wrote: “He will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Another user, Peace Ijeoma wrote, “It’s disheartening to see how religious bigots are defending the priest. May we try to be lovers of God and not lovers of the men of God this 2025. Rip to the boy.”
On X, a tweep identified as Bloc Chief, with the username #blochief tweeted, “I thought this happens in the USA? How can this happen in Imo? Mehn.”
Another tweep, identified as Rise above hat, but tweeting as #asababoi2man, wrote, “Maybe he has [been] abducted before by gunmen… so he felt the men are back.. only God knows what he was thinking.”