Catholic priest shoots boy dead for throwing ‘knockout’ during during New Year mass

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Enyinnaya, of St. Columbus Catholic Church, in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has been arrested by the police command for allegedly killing a boy who threw a firework, popularly called knockout or banger, inside the church on New Year’s Eve.

The incident left the boy, identified simply as Joseph, dead and others injured.

A source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent on Thursday that the incident happened during the crossover night/New Year’s Eve service where the Catholic priest had warned the boys throwing fireworks to usher in the New Year not to throw the ‘banger’ inside the church premises but one of them went ahead, ignoring the warning.”

He said, “The priest, angered by the boy’s action, took his revolver after the boy disobeyed his warning, fired into the air but accidentally shot at the boy with others sustaining injuries.”

Another indigene of the community, who witnessed the incident, corroborated the remark noting that the Catholic priest fired the gun to scare the boys away unmindful of the resultant consequences.

According to him, “On the incident (shooting of the firework thrower), it is a case of accidental discharge. The priest was said to have warned the firework-throwing lads repeatedly, not to do their business within the church and when they continued, he went in and picked up his gun, a double-barrelled gun, and fired a warning shot in the air. But the unfortunate young boy was hit when the priest was lowering his hand not knowing that the bullets in one of the barrels never emptied at the first shot.”

The state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed the arrest of the priest when our correspondent contacted him on Thursday, saying an investigation had begun.

He said, “A detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident. Further developments on the case will be communicated in due course. The priest has been arrested for investigations.”

The incident left one boy dead, while others who sustained injuries were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.