Gunmen on Friday kidnapped a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara along Ejemekwuru-Ogbaku Road, a highway linking Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of Imo State.
An eyewitness told our correspondent said that the priest was cornered while driving back to Owerri, the state capital, after the burial rites of the father of one of his colleagues at Izombo community, in the Oguta LGA.
The victim was said to be in charge of Man of Order and Discipline of the Catholic Archdiocese, Owerri.
The source said: “Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, popularly known as Owu Ujo, has just been kidnapped along Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road. He was kidnapped alongside others he was in the same vehicle with.
“The incident happened right before us. We were also coming back to Owerri from the funeral rites of the father of another Catholic priest at Izombo in the Oguta LGA”.
The Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Raymond Ogu confirmed the incident.
Last week, the Catholic priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic Church, Ezinachi/Ugwuago, in the Okigwe LGA of the state, Jude Maduka, was kidnapped.
Also, the Catholic priest in charge of St. Paul’s parish in Osu, Isiala Mbano LGA, Rev. Fr. Micheal Asomugha, was also abducted.
