Catholic priest found dead 60 days after kidnap

• We’ll get his killers – Gov. Ortom

From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi

ABOUT 60 days af­ter his abduction by gunmen, Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Revd. Fr. John Adeyi, has been found dead in Otupka, Ogbadibo Local Government area of Benue State.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who an­nounced Adeyi’s death, during a town hall meeting he held with Igede people yesterday at the Col­lege of Education, Oju, auditorium, said the skeleton was found last Tuesday in Otukpa.

The Catholic priest was kidnapped between Otukpa and Ugbokolo in Ogbad­ibo and Okpokwu Local Government Area.

Family sources said N2 million ran­som was paid, even as the abductors cut off all communication with the family until his skeleton was found last Tuesday.

The governor said the skeleton was discovered three kilometres away from the road, adding that he has directed the police and medical per­sonnel to collect it for postmortem.

Ortom, who asked the people to observe one minute silence for the repose of the priest’s soul, vowed that his killers must be brought to book.

While noting that his prayer of dedication on May 30 was being answered by God, the governor stressed that anyone who tries God would regret it.

Meanwhile, Idoma socio-cultural group, Opiatoha K’Idoma has described as unfortu­nate, the kidnap and killing of the priest.

In a statement signed by the Secretary-Gener­al, Chief Adoka Adaji, the group lamented that the killing showed that there is not enough se­curity in Idomaland.

“There is no security in Idomaland, other­wise, the kidnappers of the late Rev. Fr. John Adeyi would have been exposed. The Idoma people are no longer their brothers’ keepers,” he said.