Once again, gunmen abduct 2 Catholic priests in Edo – The Sun Nigeria

0

Of Tony OsauzoBenign

Of them Catholic priests were reportedly abducted by gunmen in Edo State.

The priests, Reverend Fathers Udo Peter and Philemon Oboh, of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi and St. Joseph’s Retreat Center, Ugboha, respectively, of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi, are said to have traveled from Benin to Uromi when they were kidnapped along the Benin-Auchi road on Saturday.

The incident happened less than a week after the Rev. Christopher Odia was horribly killed by suspected Fulani kidnappers, in Ikabigbo, in the Etsako West local government area of ​​the state.

The Edo State Police Command yesterday confirmed the kidnapping of the two priests. Command Spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, in a statement yesterday said, “This is to confirm the incident of the kidnapping of two Catholic Reverend Fathers. Udo Peter of St. Patrick Uromi Catholic Church and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph’s Retreat Center, Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Area of ​​Edo State.

“The Edo State Police Command was informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer of Ugboha, Edo State, that on Sunday 03/07/2022, a Reverend Father Amos Abhulimen of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Ugboha reported that he was informed by the Catholic authority, via WhatsApp, that the Reverend Catholic Fathers named above were attacked, abducted and taken to unknown locations by kidnappers, along the Benin-Auchi highway, between the communities of Ehor and Iruekpen.

“Immediately, Edo State Police Commissioner Abutu Yaro dispatched police officers to the area and warned to conduct an aggressive and well-coordinated manhunt to arrest the kidnappers and rescue the reverend fathers unscathed. CP seeks the cooperation of the general public in providing information to the police and other sister security agencies in policing in Edo State,” the statement added.

However, the Catholic Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Bishop Donatus Ogun, could not be reached for comment as he was reportedly in a meeting.

“Personally, here I cannot give any information. The bishop is in a meeting,” an aide to the bishop told the Daily Sun by phone.

Moreover, a childhood friend of Father Oboh, Mr. Fred Itua, told the Daily Sun that “Father. Oboh is a religious priest who, contrary to popular belief, has no money. His abduction is unfortunate and discouraging. We can only appeal to his captors to release him. It’s a call. It’s very traumatic. »

Meanwhile, the family of kidnapped Catholic priest from Ikabigbo, Father Christopher Odia, have denied media reports that his mother, Philomena Odia Ogedegbe, has died.

The family, in a statement signed by the late priest’s elder brother, Comrade Robert Ogedegbe, said that contrary to the false report, their mother was in good health and grieving for her son. Additionally, the statement said Kebiru, the arrested Fulani man who orchestrated the abduction and murder of the father. Christopher Odia, was not his gardener nor his caretaker.

“We wish, however, to restore the facts that the said Kebiru was neither the gardener nor the front door of Father Christopher, but only lived in the same community of Ikabigbo, where our son/brother was pastor of the Catholic faithful as as a priest,” the statement added. .

Share.

Comments are closed.