Mark Ojotu, a catholic priest, Chaplain of St Mary’s Hospital, Okpoga, in Okpokwu Local Government area of Benue State, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
DAILY POST learnt that the incident, which happened on Thursday, December 22, 2022, barely four days before Christmas, had plunged residents of the community into panic.
A statement issued by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev Fr Joseph Aboyi Itodo, said the Bishop of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, His Excellency, Most Rev Fr Michael Apochi, has called on Christian faithful across the country to pray for the quick and safe release of the priest.
Our correspondent reports that there have been a series of kidnapping incidents in the Benue South Senatorial District since the beginning of the year.
It can be recalled that the late Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, late Rev Fr John Adeyi, was kidnapped from the same parish in Okpoga in 2016 by assailants who later killed him.
Fr Adeyi’s decomposing body was discovered behind the office complex of Ogbadibo Local Government Education Authority at Otukpa, his home town, in June 2016, by security personnel combing the area.
Abia: Kidnappers Abduct Catholic Priest, Demand N50 Billion Ransom
Reverend Father Chinedu Nwadike, a Catholic priest, has been kidnapped by gunmen identified to be bandits along the Okigwe – Enugu expressway in Umunneochi council area of Abia State.
Nwadike who is also the Deputy Registrar of Spiritan University Nneochi, SUN, was kidnapped alongside a seminarian over the weekend on their way to Enugu for an official assignment.
Information gathered suggest that the kidnappers have made contact with the school demanding N50bm ransom for his release.
As of the time of filing this report, the Abia State Police Command was yet to officially respond to questions regarding the abduction of the Reverend Father and seminarian.
Comments regarding the development have also not been made by the Catholic Archdiocese.
Rev. Fr Nwadike’s abduction is the latest in a series of kidnappings involving clergymen across the country. A few weeks back, two priests of the Catholic Church were kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State.
Three days after they were taken by the gunmen, one of the priests was killed while the other was released by the bandits after an undisclosed amount of money was paid to them as ransom.
Reacting to the incident, President Muhammadu Buhari said he is deeply disturbed by the murder of the revered religious figure by outlaws who seem to be bent on creating chaos and disorder in the country.
According to President Buhari, the persistent attack on innocent people, including religious figures, by gunmen is a matter of grave concern, especially because security is one of the major issues of his campaign promises.
The president assured Nigerians that the government would continue to ensure the safety of the people.
“Let me reassure Nigerians that my commitment to this issue is as firm as ever; I have always made it a duty to regularly summon security chiefs to discuss these challenges and the way forward,” he said.
“I’m not allowing the security chiefs to rest unless and until we find a very effective solution to this disturbing security situation,” Buhari declared.
He said the security of all Nigerians remains his administration’s major priority, adding that the government remains determined to crush the bandits who he described as enemies of humanity.
