Tension, palpable fear and anxiety have taken over the better part of the people of Imo state as gunmen on Friday evening kidnapped another Catholic priest in the State.
Rev Fr Mathias Opara was kidnapped alongside three other occupants of his car.
Fr. Opara’s abduction came barely five days a priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic Church at Ezinachi/Ugwuago parish of the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe, Rev. Fr. Jude Maduka was kidnapped on Sunday just moments before he went for a Sunday Mass.
Also, the incident came less than 24 hours after the gruesome murders of a traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo community in Oguta local government area and a traditional prime minister of Mgbele community in the same area.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the priest in today’s incident was kidnapped along Ejemekwuru- Ogbaku Road housing Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of Imo State.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the priest popularly known as Owu Ujo was double crossed while driving back to Owerri, the state capital after the burial rites of the father of one of his colleagues at Izombe community in the Oguta LGA.
The victim, the source told of correspondent is in charge of Man of Order and Discipline of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.
The source said ”Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara popularly known as Owu Ujo has just been kidnapped along Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road. He was kidnapped alongside others he was in the same vehicle with.
“The incident happened right before us. We were also coming back to Owerri from the funeral rites of the father of another Catholic priest at Izombe in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.”
When contacted, the Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev Fr Raymond Ogu confirmed the Kidnap of the priest, stressing that they working assiduously for the quick and safe release of the priest.
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