Follow Us on Google
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
A reliable source has revealed how Reverend Father Raymond Njoku, the Assistant Parish Priest of St Kevin’s Catholic Church, Ogbaku, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area escaped being abducted yesterday. The source told our correspondent that Father Njoku smartly faked death after he was severally shot at by hoodlums who earlier attacked him on the road on his way home in his Lexus 350 Sports Utility vehicle.
The source said the priest was left alone when they thought he was dead.
He recalled that when the priest arrived at the church gate, he never knew that the abductors did not give up when they failed to abduct him on the road. He added that the priest did not know that he was still being trailed when he stopped at the entrance of the gate.
“The criminals had stormed Ogbaku community and were operating in a Lexus RX 350. First, they tried to kidnap somebody but the fellow escaped.
“Soon after the failed kidnap operation, Fr. Njoku, who was on his way home at about 8pm, innocently drove past and they pursued him. “On reaching the church gate, the hoodlums ceaselessly hooted. He thought it was his Parish Priest and decided to make way for him, but this turned out to be his undoing. “The gunmen double-crossed him, alighted from their vehicle and started shooting at him. His vehicle was badly riddled with bullets such that nobody ever believed the occupant came out alive.
“At that point, the parish priest summoned courage and came out. Sympathisers also came out to see Fr. Njoku, who was almost bleeding to death; he was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.” When contacted, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, not only confirmed the incident, but also informed that “an emergency surgery has already been carried out on him.”
Archbishop Ugorji added: “We thank God that he survived the deadly attack. He is doing well, as we speak.”
Although the Imo State police 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, had visited the crime scene.
