Rev. Father Joseph Azubuike, a priest for the Abakaliki Diocese in Ebonyi State, has been abducted by some criminals and gunmen.
On Monday, a Catholic priest and three other people were abducted.
The victim was abducted on his way to St. Charles Parish, Mgbaleze Isu in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on his way back from responsibilities, according to a statement made by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Father Mathew Opoke.
The Diocesan Chancellor stated that the kidnappers were demanding money in the “Call for Prayers” statement.
Please pray for the unconditional release of Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Azubuike, who was kidnapped on Monday, July 10, 2023, close to his parish while returning from his pastoral activities.
The parish priest at St. Charles Parish in Mgbaleze Isu, Onicha Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, is Fr. Joseph.
“The kidnappers are demanding money, but with your prayers, we will get them back without any conditions. May Mary, the patroness of priests, pray for us. Amen.”
Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Ebonyi State Police Command, responded that information about the development had not yet been sent to her office.
“I’m still in touch with the Divisional Police who are investigating the event. The police spokesman said, “Let me check to see if the incident has been reported.
While this was going on, gunmen who may have been enforcing the sit-at-home order caused mayhem in the state, which heightened tensions and terror among the populace.
Francis Nwifuru, the governor of the state, however, said that there was no such thing as sit-at-home in the state.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Dr. Monday Uzor, the governor who spoke to reporters shortly after taking part in a meeting of Ohaneze Ndigbo with governors, house of assembly speakers, national assembly members, and other leaders from the South East zone at Imo State Governor’s Lodge Asokoro, Abuja, explained that what happened in the state a week ago was a case of miscreants who tried to instill fear in the public and disrupt businesses.
There isn’t anything like sit-at-home in Ebonyi, therefore I’m astonished to hear it from you. We never once watched someone sit at home, as I’m sure you are aware.
They don’t have such abilities, they can’t do that, and it didn’t happen, Nwifuru added. “Some individuals merely wanted to discover if they can start putting tension on others.
