Unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a Catholic reverend father in Imo State, Mathias Opara.
The victim, who is also known as Owu Ujo, was picked up on Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road while returning to Owerri, from where he had gone for a funeral ceremony for the father of one of his colleagues at the Izombo community in the Oguta LGA.
The victim, who is the Man of Order and Discipline of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, was said to have been ambushed by the gunmen before he was abducted and whisked away into the forest.
A source, who does not want his name mentioned, said the priest was abducted with others who were in the same car with him.
He said: “The incident took place directly in front of us. In addition, we were returning to Owerri from the burial services for the father of a different Catholic priest in Izombo, Imo State’s Oguta Local Government Area.”
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Communications for the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Raymond Ogu, confirmed the incident.
He mentioned two priests among victims recently kidnapped in the area.
He said the Catholic priest in charge of the Christ the King Catholic Church at Ezinachi/Ugwuago in the state’s Okigwe Local Government Area, Jude Maduka, and another priest in charge of St. Paul’s Church in Osu in Isiala Mbano LGA, Rev. Fr. Michael Asomugha, have been abducted recently.
