Serious Commotion As Turbaned Man Invades Catholic Church In Abuja

In what will come across as a really startling development, there was serious apprehension at Archangel Raphael Catholic Church, Garki Abuja, Police Barracks, yesterday when an unidentified turbaned man invaded the church premises, The Nation reports.

According to eyewitnesses, the man who wore sunglasses and a hat that had the inscription ‘POLICE” on it, did not have a tenable explanation when he was apprehended by some worshippers.

He was also wearing a faded suspected US Army- type camouflage trousers and drove a silver-coloured Peugeot 406 with an Abuja number BWR-417HF. 

The incident, it was gathered, happened shortly after Mass.

Narrating what happened, a lady who made a video of the incident on her cellphone, said, “This is just happening here right now, a terrorist entered my church Archangel Raphael Catholic Church, Garki, Abuja, Police Barracks. He dressed up with in turban with a police face cap and dark shades. He drove to where the men were having a meeting. We were shouting for him to stop. So we now shouted that people should come out and stop him and they stopped him.

“He said he was here to see somebody but the person he claimed he came to see said he did not know him. After much interrogation he said he was from Abia. Where in Abia, he could not say. He now said part of his relations they are from Ethiopia. So we asked what are you doing dressed like this.

“He said he was going to call the Inspector General of Police. Meanwhile in this barracks we have those working for the IGP. I am videoing his car. We saw some things in his car, drugs and everything. So we are just being careful now. And it’s Catholic Church that’s their target now. So I beg all Catholics should tighten their security. Let us not take anything for granted.”

But the FCT police spokesperson  Josephine Adeh said there was no cause for alarm.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the man had just returned to the country and had come into the barracks to seek an old friend whose address he could not clearly remember.

“The church was not attacked, no arm or prohibited item was recovered in his possession except for a face cap customised “Police ” which is neither an approved kit nor an accouterment in the police dress order,” Adeh said.