Unknown gunmen abduct Catholic priest in Benue state
- The kidnapping incidents in Benue state have continued unabated in recent weeks
- A priest of the Catholic church have been kidnapped in Otukpo local government area of Benue state
- Both police authorities and the leadership of the Catholic church in the state have confirmed the incident
Unknown gunmen have kidnapped a priest of the Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father David Echioda in Benue state.
Vanguard reports that the incident occurred in Allan Akpa community of Otukpo local government area of Benue state on Sunday, March 1.
Father Echioda was said to have been kidnapped while on his way from Utonkon in Ado local government area of the state where he had gone on missionary assignment.
Source: Depositphotos
An unnamed source quoted in the report said the cleric ran into the gunmen, who seized his phones and also took him in his car to an unknown destination.
A motorcycle rider who ran into the scene and escaped being kidnapped too was the one who broke the news.
“The kidnappers are yet to open contact with anyone while the whereabouts of the priest is still unknown,” the source said.
The director of information, Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Father John Okopopu and the Benue police command spokesperson, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the abduction of the priest.
Recall that heavily armed men on Friday, February 14, kidnapped a priest of the Uromi Catholic Arch Diocese, Rev Father Nicholas Oboh in Benin the Edo state capital.
Chancellor Uromi Diocese, Rev Father Osi Odenore, revealed this in a statement he posted on his Facebook page.
“We are sure he is alive, and since the incident, steps have been taken to ensure that Rev Father Nicholas Oboh is released without no harm,” he wrote.
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In a related development, 12 persons were kidnapped along Itobe-Ajegu community in Ofu local government area of Kogi state on Sunday, February 16.
The passengers were travelling in a commercial bus from Warri in Delta state to Anyigba in Kogi state when the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, four kidnap victims were successfully rescued from kidnappers at Sauni Hills, Lambata, a community in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja recently.
This was revealed in a statement by the spokesman of the FCT police command, DSP Anjuguri Menzah on Monday, February 10.
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