Another Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, was abducted by gunmen on Friday evening in Imo state.
Opara was kidnapped while returning from a burial ceremony in Izombe community, Oguta Local Government Area.
The incident occurred along Ejemekwuru and Ogbaku road between Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas. Witnesses reported that the priest and several others in the vehicle were double-crossed and taken captive while on their way back to Owerri.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, has not yet received an official report regarding the incident. Rev. Fr. Raymond Ogu, the Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, confirmed the ambush and subsequent kidnapping of the priest. The assailants emerged from the bush, ambushed the vehicle, and took the priest into the forest.
Three other passengers were released, while one small boy managed to escape during the ambush. This abduction follows the recent kidnapping of Rev. Fr. Jude Maduka from the Diocese of Okigwe and Rev. Fr. Michael Asumogha from Okigwe Catholic diocese in April, both of whom were later released.
NAN
