Nigeria — On Friday evening, gunmen abducted Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, another Catholic Priest, along the Ejemekwuru and Ogbaku road between Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas in Imo State.
Rev. Fr. Opara was returning from a colleague’s father’s burial ceremony in Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area when he was double-crossed and kidnapped along with some people in the same vehicle while driving back to Owerri. PM News reports.
An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident, saying that the priest was kidnapped before them. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, is yet to receive an official report concerning the abduction.
The Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Raymond Ogu, confirmed that the priest was ambushed and kidnapped, adding that the hoodlums took the priest and the other three passengers into the bush after they had released one small boy among them.
The other three were released to take Opara’s car. Rev. Fr. Opara’s abduction occurred just a week after Rev. Fr. Jude Maduka, the Priest of Christ the King Parish, Ezinachi/Ugwuago of the Diocese of Okigwe in Okigwe Local Government Area, was kidnapped while preparing for the Eucharistic Mass celebration at his adoration ground.
Nigerians continue to express concerns over the alarming rate of insecurity in the country, as kidnapping for ransom becomes a common trend. Security experts have repeatedly warned that the spate of kidnappings and other criminal activities could escalate if government and security agencies continue to pay lip service to the issue.
The general public is becoming increasingly apprehensive as criminals seem to be more emboldened in carrying out their nefarious activities. In response, various stakeholders and pressure groups have called on government authorities to tackle the menace and ensure the safety of all residents.
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