GUNMEN KIDNAP CATHOLIC PRIEST IN ANAMBRA
Gunmen have abducted a popular Catholic priest in the Onitsha Diocese of Anambra State, Reverend Father Basil Gbuzuo.
According to eyewitnesses, the reverend father was abducted from his vehicle while driving around the area on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha also confirming the development in a statement issued on Thursday, May 16, 2024, said the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, around 8 am along the Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass.
The statement also added that His Grace, Most Rev Valerian Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, had called on all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill to pray for the quick and safe release of the priest.
The Archdiocese said it was also intensifying efforts to secure Fr Gbuzuo’s freedom, while committing the priest to “powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his kidnappers.”
The statement signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Prudentius E. Aroh, read in part, “With sadness, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo. “The sad incident occurred yesterday morning, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, along Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass, about 8am.
“He is a priest in residence at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Ogidi. Until now, the abductors have not established any contact with anyone. “His Grace, Most Rev Valerian M. Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of the priest as we intensify our efforts to ensure his freedom.
“We commend our brother, Fr Basil, to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his kidnappers.” Reacting to the development in a statement Thursday evening, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had launched a manhunt for the abductors of the priest.
The PPRO’s statement read, “Anambra Police Command has launched a manhunt for the abductors and possible rescue of Fr Basil Chukwuemeka, which sad incident occurred at Nkpor Junction, Onitsha.
“The Command is already working with some eyewitnesses to the incident in the ongoing operation.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, while addressing the Catholic priests, allayed their fears and assured them that the Command would do everything to rescue the priest unhurt and arrest the abductors.”
This comes two weeks after Kkdnappers abducted Archbishop Uka Uka Osim of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, his wife, Anne Osim and son, Roland Uka Osim. They and three other clergymen of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, were abducted in Abia State on May 1, 2024.
They were going to Awka, capital of Anambra State, for evangelicalism when the armed men attacked them. The three other priests kidnapped were Azuka Ochu, Moses Okafor and Anderson Akwazie. The administrator of the Spiritual Organisation in Abia State, BCS, Bishop Denis Onuoha said the priests were kidnapped four days after, adding that the abductors were yet to contact anybody.
“We are very worried but we are assured that the Almighty Father who they worship and work for with total devotion will help them out,” he said.
One more photo below.
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