Shock and anger have swept through Owerri after unknown attackers broke into a Catholic chapel and made away with the Blessed Sacrament in what church authorities describe as a serious act of desecration.
The incident occurred at the Adoration Chapel of St. Mulumba Catholic Parish along Wetheral Road, where intruders reportedly gained entry in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by Archdiocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbarah, the attackers breached the building by opening parts of the roof before descending through the ceiling into the chapel.
Once inside, they reportedly took the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament, an object of deep spiritual significance in the Catholic faith. The incident is believed to have happened during heavy rainfall in the early hours of April 29.
Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Raymond Madu confirmed the breach, describing the act as both alarming and deeply offensive to the faith community.
In response, the Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has directed parishioners to observe a one-week period of prayer for reparation. The exercise is scheduled to run daily from May 1 to May 8 between 4pm and 6pm.
Church authorities also used the moment to reinforce strict guidelines around the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, warning that it must never be left unattended under any circumstance.
The Archdiocese stressed that such sacred rites should only be conducted when there is a sufficient presence of worshippers, in line with established canon law provisions.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the security of places of worship in the region, with calls for vigilance and improved protective measures to prevent a recurrence.
