A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Edmond Nwagbara has been burnt to death in a blaze that consumed his living quarters in the early hours of Saturday, the 16th of November, 2019.
Before his death, Nwagbara was the Parish priest of St. Peter Claver Catholic Parish Nnewi-ichi in Nnewi North council area of Anambra State.
Crimefacts.news reports that statements by the Anambra State Fire Service and the State Police Command put the time of the inferno between 3:30am and 4:00am Saturday morning.
The statement by the spokesman of the Anambra State police Command, SP Haruna Mohammed read in part : “The inferno, which cause is yet to be ascertained affected part of the Church residential building. As a result the parish priest one Rev. Fr.Edmond Nwagbala ‘m’ aged about 60yrs was burnt beyond recognition inside his room in the same premises.”
Haruna noted that Police patrol teams attached to Otolo Division led by the DPO visited the scene of the tragedy, adding that men of the Fire Service department were equally alerted and responded promptly, swiftly putting out the fire before it escalated.
The Police statement further read: “Meanwhile, the victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention but certified dead on arrival by the medical doctor on ground and corpse was deposited at the mortuary for postmortem examination.”
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP John Abang has ordered a discreet investigation into the tragedy, to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.
Catholic faithful in Nnewi-Ichi has since thronged the parish to see things for themselves as the community and its environ wear a gloomy and sombre look.
