Gun-wielding hoodlums kidnap Ebonyi Catholic priest, three others

Gunmen, on Monday, kidnapped a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Azubuike, and three yet-to-be-identified persons in Ebonyi State.

Azubuike is the Parish priest of St. Charles Parish, Mgbaleze village, Isu community, in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

The Chancellor of the Abakaliki Diocese, Rev Father Mathew Opoke, while confirming the incident in a statement on Tuesday, said Azubuike was kidnapped close to his parish while returning from evangelical duties.

Opoke revealed the kidnappers had established contact with the Diocese and demanded an undisclosed amount of ransom.

The statement read in part, “Kindly pray for the unconditional release of Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Azubuike, who was abducted on Monday, July 10, 2023, close to his parish on his way back from pastoral duties.

“He was abducted alongside three other people. The abductors are making financial demands but with your prayers, we are going to have them back unconditionally.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the command had received a report of the kidnap and that investigation was ongoing.

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