Catholic priest dies from own gun

THE Parish Priest of St. Thomas Moore
Catholic Church, Sobe, in Owan West Local
Government Area of Edo State, Rev. Father Peter
Ayala, was, Sunday morning, found dead in his
apartment, few hours before he was due to conduct
the 7a.m mass.
Vanguard gathered that the cleric was said to be
cleaning his double-barreled gun inside his apartment
within the church premises, when the gun reportedly
went off and killed him.
It was gathered that the incident took place in the
early hours of Sunday before the Priest dressed up
for the mass even as worshippers were said to be
gathering for the service.
The incident, it was learnt, threw the church into
confusion as mass servers and church elders made
frantic efforts to know what went wrong with
congregation waiting for the mass to begin but found
the priest lying death in his apartment.
The Elders were said have later reported the
incident to the Bishop of the Auchi Diocese, Dr
Gabriel Duniya, who it was gathered conducted a quick
investigation with security agents and confirmed that
the priest died when the rifle he was cleaning went
off.
Meanwhile, Sobe was still in mourning, yesterday, as
the worshippers, irrespective of their denominations,
on hearing the tragic news gathered near the church
premises, discussing the incident in hush tones.
Contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations, DSP
Moses Eguavoen said the incident was unfortunate,
adding that the state command was yet to get the
full details of what transpired before the Priest’s
death.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace