Five have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in connection with the early morning shooting of a priest, Reverend Father Daniel Nwankwo, at St Thomas Catholic Church, Onilekere, Ikeja, Lagos.
Vanguard gathered that Father Nwankwo, who is currently receiving treatments at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, was attacked by the gunmen after the 6:30am mass.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the gunmen gained access into the church pretending to be parishioners, while the mass was on and they requested to have an audience with the priest at the end of the mass.
It was gathered that one of the gunmen, who was communicating in Igbo language fluently, pulled out a locally-made gun and shot at the priest, when he granted them audience and they immediately scaled the fence of the church and fled through a canal close to the church.
Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, while confirming the report said: “The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, had visited the scene and he has also spoken with a witness, who confirms seeing three assailant of the Igbo extraction, who were also not known to be members of the church, having a conversation with the Rev Father before he was shot.”
Famous-Cole, explained that CP Edgal, had also visited Rev Father Nwankwo, at the hospital where he’s been treated and he also confirmed that the Rev Father was alive and responding to treatment.
He added that CP Edgal has swiftly ordered a crack team of detectives and operational officers from the Lagos State Police Command to investigate the incident.
Stating that their efforts led to arrest of five suspects, who he said would be diligently interrogated for vital information to aid police investigation.
Famous-Cole also said, “The Commissioner of Police Lagos State is advising Lagosians to be viligant and security conscious at this time and must identify and report any strange faces and suspicious movement to the police.
He has also ordered the deployment of static police guard and instructed the Area Commanders and DPOs to provide static police guard on 24 hours bases in all churches and mosques across the state and not only on Fridays and Sundays like it as been done in the past.
He is also assured that every asset of the police command will be deployed to make sure the hoodlums that made an attempt on the Rev Father would be arrested and brought to book.