From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Gunmen have abducted another Catholic priest, Rev Fr Mathias Opara, on Friday along Ejemekwuru-Ogbaku Road in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Narrating how the priest was abducted, an eyewitness said that he was double crossed while returning to Owerri, the Imo State capital after attending the funeral of one of his colleagues’ father at Izombe in Oguta council of the state.
The victim, the source further said, was abducted alongside those he was riding with on their way home.
According to the witness “Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara popularly known as Owu Ujo, was kidnapped along Ejemekwuru-Ogbaku Road. He was kidnapped with others he was in the same vehicle with.
“The incident happened right before us. We were also coming back to Owerri from the funeral 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 incident, recalling that last week, the Catholic priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic Church at Ezinachi-Ugwuago in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state, Jude Maduka, was also abducted.
Lately, the Catholic priest in-charge of St Paul Parish, Osu, in the Isiala-Mbano LGA, Rev Fr. Michael Asomugha, was also abducted.
The state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Reverend Fr. Patrick Mbah, in a release on Friday, called for prayers for the safe return of the priest.