A
mild drama at the Saint Rose Catholic Church, Imo State has resulted in
the shooting of a police officer during a church riot.
The youths destroyed many things during the protest in Imo State
Four Catholic priests and eight others have been arrested by the
Imo State Police Command for allegedly masterminding the protest that
led to the shooting of the Ahiazu Mbaise Divisional Police Officer, Mr.
Danjuma Ragga.
According to information released by the police, Ragga, a Chief
Superintendent of Police, was allegedly shot by irate diocesan youths on
Saturday during the protest.
Revealing details of the incident, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, on Monday said the Vicar General
of the Ezinihite Diocese, Reverend Father Clement Ebii, had hosted the
National President of the Catholic Women Organisation of the Saint Rose
Catholic Church.
On getting the information, the youths, who gathered at the Mater
Ecclesiae Catholic Cathedral in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, had marched to the
Ezinihite parish to stop the hosting of the CWO national president.
As they tried to stop the ceremony, they set up bonfires, barricaded the highway, and disrupted the peace of the town.
When a team of policemen drafted by Ragga from the division came to
calm the peace by urging the protesters to desist from engaging in
violence as the matter was being looked into by the Catholic hierarchy.
The youths led by a reverend father, defied the appeal of the DPO
as they started hauling missiles at the police and threatening to burn
down police patrol vans.
They also allegedly threatened to disarm the police officers involved in the operation.
It was alleged that the DPO was later shot in the leg and hand
during the protest. Further attempts to restore peace were allegedly
rebuffed by the protesting youths.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said the
command would not tolerate a situation where youths would resort to
violence to settle differences.
He 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.”
