CALABAR, Nigeria — Police in Cross River State have confirmed an early-morning arson attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Katchuan Iruan, Boki Local Government Area, after unknown attackers set parts of the church premises ablaze and destroyed records kept inside the building. Cross River police spokesperson ASP Sunday Eitokpah said the attack happened at about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday and was believed to have been carried out by suspected arsonists. According to him, the fire destroyed all church records kept in the sacristy.
Police said the attackers also burned two vehicles parked within the church compound: a Lexus RX 350 belonging to the priest and a Toyota Corolla. The destruction has raised concern in the local Catholic community, though no deaths or injuries were reported in the initial police account.
“No suspect has been identified at this time,” Eitokpah said, adding that efforts were ongoing to determine who carried out what he described as an “unfortunate criminal act.” He said officers had already visited the scene, taken photographs, formally recorded the incident, and referred the case to Okunde Police Station for what police called a discreet investigation. As of Thursday night, there was no public claim of responsibility and no indication from police that any arrests had been made. Available reporting also did not include a separate statement from Catholic Church authorities beyond the police confirmation.
The attack adds to wider concerns over insecurity affecting religious sites and rural communities in parts of Nigeria, though investigators have not yet said whether this incident was motivated by religious hostility, a personal grievance, or another criminal motive. For now, police say the focus is on identifying the attackers and establishing exactly how the church compound was breached.
