Gunmen abduct second Imo cleric in one week
Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped another Catholic priest in Imo State, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, along Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road in the state.
The abducted priest who was also identified as Owu Ujo, was said to have just performed the funeral rites for the father of one of his colleagues at the Izombo community in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state, and he was ambushed on his way to Owerri, the state’s capital, according to an eyewitness.
It was learnt that the victim is the Man of Order and Discipline of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.
A community source, who preferred anonymity, revealed that, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, was abducted along the Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road along with others who were in the same car.
“The incident took place directly in front of us. In addition, we were returning to Owerri from the burial services for the father of a different Catholic priest in Izombo, Imo State’s Oguta Local Government Area,” the source said.
Contacted, the Director of Public Communications for the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev Fr. Raymond Ogu confirmed the development.
The Catholic priest in charge of the Christ the King Catholic Church at Ezinachi/Ugwuago in the state’s Okigwe Local Government Area, Jude Maduka was kidnapped just last week, according to a source.
Rev. Fr. Michael Asomugha, the Catholic priest in charge of St. Paul’s church in Osu in the Isiala Mbano LGA, was also abducted, a source also disclosed.