Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted two Catholic priests identified as Rev. Father Udo of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Uromi, and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha in Edo State, were reportedly kidnapped on Saturday night.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the Catholic priests were abducted along the Benin-Auchi Road on their way back to Uromi in Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state. The incident has thrown the churches’ members into fear over the safety of their clergymen.
As at the time of filing this report on Sunday evening, it can not be ascertained if the gunmen had made any contact with the church or the families as of this time.
When contacted, the Catholic Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Bishop Donatus Ogun, could not be reached but his aid said he was in a meeting.
“I cannot give any information on the issue. The bishop is in a meeting,” the aide stated.
Also, a childhood friend of Fr Oboh, Mr. Fred Itua, says that Oboh is a religious priest, who contrary to popularly held views, doesn’t have money.
He said, “His abduction is unfortunate and disheartening. We can only appeal to his abductors to set him free. It’s an appeal. This is very traumatising,” Itua said.
All efforts to get the reaction of the Edo State Police Command, failed as the spokesman of the Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, was yet to respond to inquiries on the matter.