Unidentified gunmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest, Arinze Madu, in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES is reporting.
The newspaper learnt that Madu, a Vice-Rector at the Queen of Apostle Spiritual Year Seminary, Imezi-Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was abducted at the gate of the institution.
Benjamin Achi, the Director of Communication, Enugu Catholic Diocese, confirmed Madu’s abduction.
Two Catholic priests had previously been kidnapped and killed in Enugu.
“This incident is coming barely two months after Rev. Fr. Offu was gruesomely killed by gunmen at Ihe-Agbudu road in August. This year alone, two priests have been killed while three escaped,” Achi said.
He also said in March, another reverend father of the St. Mark Catholic Church, Obinofia Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Clement Ugwu, was abducted at his home and was later found dead.
Achi also said Reverend Father Paulinus Ilo was attacked by Fulani herdsmen along Numeh-Nenwe road in Nkanu Local Government Area of the state.
Ebere Amaraizu, spokesperson of the police in Enugu State, confirmed the abduction of Madu, stating that the Force was on the trail of the abductors.
Amaraizu said, “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force through its operatives has intensified manhunt on the abductors of Rev. Fr. Arinze Madu of the Queen of Apostles Seminary School, Imezi Owa in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State with a view to liberating victim unhurt and arresting suspects.
“It was gathered that the priest was allegedly abducted on October 28 at about 5.50 p.m. near the gate of the seminaruy located at Imezi Owa as he was driving out of the seminary premises after suspected hoodlums had allegedly fired sporadically.”
The Enugu State Government, which “expressed deep concern about the unfortunate incident,” said it “will leave no stone unturned to make sure that he regains his freedom.”