Gunmen attack Catholic Church, shoot Parish Priest in Lagos

A few days after a Reverend Father was kidnapped and murdered in Imo State, gunmen suspected to be assassins stormed a Catholic Church in Lagos and shot at the Parish Priest after early morning mass on Friday, September 8, 2017.

A statement from the state Police Command reveal that the suspected assassins had disguised as parishioners and gained entry into the St. Thomas Catholic Church, Onilekere, Cement, in the Ikeja area of the state and shoot the Priest.

The statement signed by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO], ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, say shortly after the mass, the attackers requested to have a dialogue with the priest, Rev. Father Daniel Nwankwo, who granted them audience outside the church auditorium.

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One of the assassins was said to have brought out a locally made pistol and shot at the Rev Father who raised an alarm, forcing the bandits to flee the area and scaled through the fence towards an adjoining canal.

The victim was immediately rushed to a hospital for medical attention where he is currently being treated and is said to be under stable conditions.

The new Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, who visited the scene, confirmed the incident and said that he had spoken with a witness who confirmed that three assailants who spoke Igbo language but not known to be members of the church, were seen having a conversation with the Rev. Father before he was shot at.

CP Edgal added that he has visited Rev. Father Nwankwo and spoke directly with him and confirmed that he has been adequate medical care and he is recuperating fast.

He further stated that a crack team of detectives and operational officers from the police command have been dispatched to the scene and area leading to the canal where an eye witness confirmed the hoodlums ran towards.

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He has also ordered the deployment of static police guard on a 24-hour basis in all Churches and Mosque across the state instead of only on Fridays and Sundays like it had been done in the past, promising that the hoodlums who made an attempt on the priest's life would be arrested and brought to book.