Kidnapped Catholic priest: Anxiety grips parishioners, as abductors yet to make contact
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Parishioners of St. Theresa Catholic Church Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia state, have expressed worry over the fate of their abducted young priest, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Mark Chimezie.
This is just as abductors of the priest were yet to make contact with the Church since they intercepted him early Wednesday morning.
Fr. Chimezie was kidnapped by an armed gang along Ohokobe Afaraukwu road in Umuahia North local government area of Abia state in the early hours of Wednesday while returning from a Morning Mass.
The Catechist of St Theresa Catholic Church, Afaraukwu Umuahia, Mr Mathias Ezinwa Uwakwe, who confirmed the Priest’s abduction told newsmen at the church premises that those holding their priest were yet to make any contacts.
Uwakwe revealed that Fr Chimezie who was just ordained in July and posted to the parish in August as a second Assistant Priest.
According to him to the Catechist, “the church has been worried about his health, a young man that has not eaten since morning.“
“Fr Mark was abducted along Ohokobe Afaraukwu road . We were in the church praying around 7 a m , when our attention was called by a man, who took us to his vehicle and explained to us how he was abducted.
“He said, some armed men intercepted the young priest when he was coming back from
Morning Mass with their Jeep , forced him out of his Toyota Corolla car into their Jeep and zoomed off.
“We have officially reported the incident to the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia . And the suspected kidnappers have not made any contact since he was kidnapped and his phone number has not been going through. We are worried,” Uwakwe said.
As at the time of this report, the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia has yet to issue a statment on the incident.
Also, Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, told newsmen Wednesday afternoon that no formal complaint on the matter has been received by the Police.