THE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command says it is investigating circumstances surrounding the appearance of an unidentified turbaned man at Archangel Raphael Catholic Church, in the Garki area of Abuja, on Sunday.
There were reports that the man ‘invaded’ the church shortly after mass.
According to eyewitnesses, the man who had a cap with the inscription ‘POLICE’, was putting on a faded United States (US) Army camouflage trouser.
READ ALSO:
Bandits kidnap another Catholic priest in Kaduna
Anguish, horror, pain: INSIDE STORY of Owo Catholic Church shootings
One hundred and two corpses unclaimed at Abuja hospital mortuary
He drove a silver-coloured Peugeot 406 with Abuja registration number BWR-417HF.
The man did not have a tenable explanation for his presence in the church premises when he was accosted by worshippers.
The incident generated tension among worshippers who felt the unidentified man was on mission to attack the church.
Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command Josephine Adeh, in a reaction sent to The ICIR, said the incident is being investigated.
But she also said there was no cause for alarm.
Parts of the statement released by the FCT police spokesperson said, “A middle-aged man was accosted by some of the worshipers after the mass while the Men’s Fellowship was holding a meeting.
“The main object of suspicion was his dressing and the manner in which he drove in.
“Preliminary investigation, however, shows he had just returned to the country and had come into the barracks to seek an old friend whose address he cannot 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 accoutrement in the Police dress order. He was also wearing a faded suspected US Army Fashion type camouflage trouser.
“Though fear and panic erupted due to recent happenings in some parts of the country, normalcy was immediately restored to the situation as the police were on the ground to swing into action.
“While the investigation continues, members of the public are urged to go about their lawful duties without fear or apprehension.”
The Police Command advised FCT residents to refrain from peddling fake narratives and blowing issues out of proportion.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance