Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest in Imo State, Reverend Father Marcel Izu Onyeocha of the Mother Theresa Of Golgotha Catholic Church in World Bank, Owerri.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Orlando Ikeowku, confirmed the incident via a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the priest was driving from Enugu State in a Nissan external SUV in the company of a friend when his car developed fault around the Ihube community in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.
According to the police spokesman, as they were trying to fix the vehicle, a group of people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen emerged from the bush and inflicted a matchet cut on the other man while the Catholic priest was abducted.
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Ikeowku said the State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Mohammed, has activated all the tactical teams of the command with a view to rescuing the priest and possibly arrest the culprits.
The incident is coming less than four months after gunmen kidnapped the Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri, Bishop Moses Chikwe.
Similarly, last Wednesday, a traditional ruler of the Umueze autonomous community in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise Mbaise Local Government Area, Eze Charles Iroegbu, was abducted alongside five members of his cabinet and two palace guards.
They were however released on Friday.
SEE STATEMENT BELOW:
IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND BULLETIN
KIDNAP OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST, REV. FR. MARCEL IZU ONYEOCHA
On 11/04/21, one Bissong Isa Atugu “m”, reported that on 10/03/21, at about 7:45 pm, while driving from Enugu to Owerri with a Nissan Exterra SUV, in the company of one REV. FR. MARCEL IZU ONYEOCHA of Mother Theresa of Golgotha Catholic Church, World Bank Owerri, the vehicle developed fault around Ihube in Okigwe LGA, and as they step down to check the vehicle, a group of people believed to be Fulani herdsmen emerged from the bush and inflicted matchet cut injuries on him, while the priest was kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.
Sequel to the above, the COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE, CP NASIRU MOHAMMED, has activated all the tactical teams of the Command, with a view to rescue the priest, and possibly arrest the culprits. He however calls for calm as the Command will do everything possible to ensure the rescue of the priest.
SP IKEOKWU GODSON ORLANDO
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
IMO STATE
