The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, who confirmed the arrest of the parish priest, stated that other officials of the church involved in the planning and execution of the ill-fated charity event were also arrested and are being detained by security agents.

The arrest of the priest and church officials came on the heels of an order by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for a thorough investigation into the stampedes that occurred in Abuja, Anambra and Oyo States all in one week.

Reacting to the arrest and detention of the church officials in his Christmas message on Wednesday, Kaigama condemned what he described as the “verbal demonization of the Catholic Church by some agents of government in responding to the

tragedy at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama.”

According to the Archbishop, the detention of the priest and officials of the church and the threat to slam criminal charges on the church “is to say the least, uninspiring, unfriendly and a misplaced zeal, and one wonders what purpose these were meant to serve.”

In the message titled ‘Christmas: A Season of Hope and Renewal”, Kaigama advised government officials to focus on “helping the organisers and the church to overcome their trauma instead of compounding it through arrest, detention and threat of criminal prosecution.”

A church official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the priest and officials arrested have been taken into detention and will likely spend Christmas behind bars.