By Elizabeth John
Authorities have confirmed that five men will be arraigned in court for assaulting a Catholic priest in Magwi County. The incident occurred on June 27, 2025, after pupils allegedly found a neighbor’s goats grazing in the school garden.
When the children attempted to chase the animals away, a confrontation broke out, escalating into a physical assault allegedly led by 61-year-old Loboi Henry and his family.
Fr. Justine Ebuchei, the parish priest of Christ the King Catholic Church, was among those injured during the scuffle.
In an exclusive interview with Radio Emmanuel, Magwi County Paramount Chief Aldo Ojara Akulino confirmed that five individuals have been remanded in connection with the attack. He also revealed that 24 pupils from Christ the King Nursery and Primary School will be arraigned in court within two weeks.
“The suspects who beat the Catholic priest and school children were arrested and taken to court. Some of the children were seriously injured, especially on their heads, and are undergoing treatment. The court has postponed proceedings to allow them to complete a three-month medical recovery period, as advised by doctors and reported by the children’s parents. The suspects will face court once the process resumes.”
Chief Akulino urged the public to respect religious leaders and highlighted the growing trend of moral and legal violations in the county.
“We must respect our priests. These are people who came from abroad and have brought many positive changes, including building schools and training centers. In Magwi, recurring cases of theft, adultery, and assault remain major concerns.”