Gunmen kill Catholic Priest In Owerri

Unknown Suspected hired assassins yesterday morning in Owerri, Imo State capital, shot dead a Catholic priest and lecturer in Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Rev. Dr. Desmond Osuagwu. The priest, who is a member of the congregation of Claretian Missionaries Eastern Province, Nigeria, was said to be going to Saint Mark’s Catholic Chaplaincy, Obinze Barracks, where he served as a
Chaplain, to conduct the day’s mass service for men of the Nigerian Armed Forces when he met his untimely death. According to an eyewitness, the assailants ambushed him on a path before Avu junction near Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, and dragged him out of his SUV before pumping bullets into his chest and watched him bleed to death on the spot. The witness said the assailants did not take any money from the priest’s car. Fr. Osuagwu, who hails from Obowo council area of the state, was Director of Students Industrial Works Experience Scheme, SIWES, at Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo. Osuagwu, who celebrated his silver jubilee anniversary as a priest last year, was reported to be among top contestants for the position of superior-general of the Claretian priests slated for 2016. When management of the polytechnic was contacted, they confirmed the incident, but declined to speak further because the state police command had already launched investigation into the incident. When our correspondent contacted the state Police Command Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, he also confirmed the incident. “We received a report that the Rev Father was attacked by hoodlums while he was on a bush path to the school near Obinze road. “The police responded on receiving the report immediately, but before we could get there the hoodlums had escaped,” he said, adding that corpse of the reverend father has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy, while investigation continues.
National Mirror