Robbers stole a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament during a break-in at St. Mulumba Parish, Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State. The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri raised the alarm of the robbery attack on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
The Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary, Rev. Fr. Patrick C. Mbarah, described the incident as a desecration of the chapel. Mbarah directed members to observe a one-week prayer of reparation.
As reported by The Punch, he made this known in a letter addressed to priests, religious, and the laity of the Owerri Archdiocese. The Rev. Fr. said the robbers took advantage of the rain in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, 2026, to carry out the act.
According to Mbarah, the robbers opened parts of the roof, gained access to the Chapel of Adoration through the ceiling, and made away with the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, has directed members of St. Mulumba Parish to observe a one-week prayer of reparation.
“As reported by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Raymond Madu, unknown persons opened parts of the roof, gained access through the ceiling, and made away with the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. It is alleged that this incident occurred during rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Following this act of irreverence, the Archbishop, His Grace, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, hereby directs all parishioners of St. Mulumba Parish, Owerri, to observe a one-week prayer of reparation from Friday, May 1 to Friday, May 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily,” the statement read.
In a related incident, worshipers of a Roman Catholic parish in Anambra state who have not collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were barred from receiving holy communion. Rev. Fr. Okonkwo, who heads the church, stated that it is a sin for citizens not to perform their civic duties. He emphasized that God will not come down from heaven to elect a good leader for them if they fail to allow God to use them as a vessel.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that terrorists attacked Agwara Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, killing one person and leaving a trail of destruction. The police command in Niger confirmed that suspected armed bandits set ablaze a police station and part of a church in Agwara community in the early hours of Sunday, February 1, 2026. For years, members of criminal gangs—known locally as bandits—have carried out killings and kidnappings for ransom, mainly targeting innocent Nigerians.
