The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has raised concern following a break-in at St. Mulumba Parish on Wetheral Road, Owerri, where a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament was stolen.

In a statement issued by the Archdiocesan Chancellor and Secretary, Rev. Fr Patrick C. Mbarah, the incident was described as a serious desecration of the chapel. He revealed that the perpetrators allegedly exploited heavy rainfall in the early hours of April 29, 2026, to gain entry by removing parts of the roof and accessing the Chapel of Adoration through the ceiling.

Following the incident, the Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, directed parishioners to observe a one-week prayer of reparation from May 1 to May 8, 2026.

He also instructed all priests within the archdiocese to strictly adhere to established guidelines governing the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, emphasizing that it must never be left unattended. The directive aims to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and reinforce reverence for sacred practices within the Church.