Catholic priest kidnapped in Benue

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Peter Amodu, has been kidnapped on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo road in Benue State. Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at about 5pm on Wednesday while the priest was on his way to a community in the area to celebrate Holy Mass. A witness said the area of the incident was […]

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Peter Amodu, has been kidnapped on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo road in Benue State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at about 5pm on Wednesday while the priest was on his way to a community in the area to celebrate Holy Mass.

A witness said the area of the incident was notorious for criminality, adding that if the criminals were not robbing on the road, they would be abducting users of the road.

The Director of Communication of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Reverend Father John Okpotu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on telephone, saying the abductors of the priest had not yet opened talks with relevant persons.

Similarly, the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, in an official release to all its priests, religious and lay faithful, disclosed that, “Fr Peter Amodu, a priest of the Holy Ghost Parish, Eke-Olengbenche, was kidnapped on July 6, at about 5pm on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo road while he was on his way to celebrate the Holy Mass at Okwungaga-Ugbokolo.”

The release, signed by Reverend Father Joseph Aboyi Itodo, indicated that the Bishop of Otukpo, Most Reverend, Michael Apochi, called on Catholic faithful to pray for the speedy release of the priest from the den of his captors.

The police spokesperson in the state, SP Catherine Anene, did not respond to calls or text messages put through her telephone on the incident.