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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
A reliable source from the Owerri Archdiocesan Presteterium has revealed how the assistant parish priest of St Kevin’s Catholic Church, Reverend Father Raymond Njoku Ogbaku in Mbaitoli Local Government Area escaped from being abducted yesterday.
The source told our correspondent that Father Njoku smartly faked his own death after being shot at severally by the hoodlums who earlier attacked him on the road on his way home with their Sports Utility,SUV Lexus 350 vehicle. The source said he was left alone when they thought he was dead.
Arriving at the gate of the church, he was oblivious of the fact that the abductors did not give up when they failed to abduct him on the road,not knowing that he was being followed he stopped at the entrance of the gate as the shooting got intensed .
The source narrated “This year’s Christmas Eve almost turned sour, as a gang of criminals, suspected to be kidnappers, stormed Ogbaku community.
“They were operating in a Lexus RX 350. Reports had it that they tried to kidnap somebody but the fellow successfully escaped.
“Soon after the failed kidnap operation, Fr. Njoku, who was on his way home at about 8pm, innocently drove past the scene and the hoodlums gave him a hot pursuit.
“On reaching the church gate, the hoodlums ceaselessly sounded their vehicle horn. He thought it was his Parish Priest and decided to make way for his supposed superior. This turned out to be his undoing.
“The gunmen double-crossed , alighted from their vehicle and started shooting at the priest . His vehicle was so badly riddled with bullets that nobody will ever believe a life came out of it.
“We thank God that none of the bullets hit any vital organ but his right hand was blasted. His saving grace was that he feigned death and the gunmen ran into their vehicle and escaped.
“At this point, the Parish Priest summoned courage and came out. Sympathizers also came out and Fr. Njoku, who was almost bleeding to death, was quickly rushed to a nearby private hospital for medical attention.”
When contacted on phone, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, not only confirmed the incident, but also said that “an emergency surgery has already been carried out on him”.
Ugorji added: “We thank God that he survived the deadly attack. He is doing well, as we speak.”
Although the Imo State Police Command’s image maker, Mr. Henry Okoye, said that the information at his disposal was sketchy, he however confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area, has since, visited the crime scene.
