ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Gunmen have, yet again, struck in Imo State and kidnapped another Catholic priest Reverend Father Mathias Opara.
It was gathered that the priest was kidnapped alongside three other occupants of his car.
Opara’s abduction came barely five days Rev. Fr. Jude Maduka was kidnapped on Sunday just moments before he went for a Sunday Mass.
Maduka is a priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic Church at Ezinachi/Ugwuago parish of the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe.
The incident also came less than 24 hours after the gruesome murders of a traditional ruler of Ezi-Orsu community in Oguta local government area and a traditional prime minister of Mgbele community in the same area.
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It was gathered that Fr Opara was kidnapped along Ejemekwuru- Ogbaku Road housing Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of Imo State.
An eyewitness revealed that the priest popularly known as Owu Ujo was double crossed while driving back to Owerri, the state capital after the burial rites of the father of one of his colleague at Izombe community in the Oguta LGA.
The source added that the victim is in charge of Man of Order and Discipline of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.
”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.
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“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 Izombe in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State”, the source said.
When contacted, the Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev Fr Raymond Ogu confirmed the Kidnap of the priest.