Unknown gunmen shot a Catholic priest in Imo State on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, in an attack suspected to be an attempted kidnapping.
The incident occurred at St. Kelvin Catholic Church in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, where the assistant parish priest was targeted as he attempted to enter the church premises early in the morning.
Sources indicate that the attackers fired shots from a distance, striking the priest. No one reportedly saw the gunmen, and it appeared to involve stray or targeted bullets.
The cleric was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he is receiving treatment and responding positively.
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, confirmed the shooting but stated that the identity and motives of the attackers remain unclear.
He noted that security agencies have been informed, and investigations are underway.Imo State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, also acknowledged the incident, saying the police are probing the matter and have urged the church to file a formal report.
The attack has heightened concerns over security in the Southeast region, amid ongoing incidents of violence and abductions targeting clergy and civilians.
Authorities have called for calm as efforts continue to apprehend the perpetrators.
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