Imo priest shoots boy dead over knockouts at New Year Mass

A Catholic Reverend Father has allegedly shot a boy dead after the latter set off knockouts within the church premises.

The incident, which occurred during the New Year Mass on January 1, 2025, in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, has sparked reactions on social media.

In a Facebook post shared on the handle, ‘For The Love Of Anambra’on Wednesday, eyewitness accounts were quoted, reporting that after the deceased set off the knockouts, “the priest, whose identity remains undisclosed, picked up a firearm and fatally shot him.”

“The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, with residents expressing outrage and demanding a thorough investigation to uncover the facts behind the unfortunate event.”

When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed that the command is aware of the incident and has launched an investigation.

He added that the command has launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident.

The incident has sparked strong reactions online, with many expressing disbelief and concern.