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.”
No comments:
Post a Comment