Gunmen kidnap another Catholic priest in Imo – Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Gunmen kidnap another Catholic priest in Imo

Published

2 years ago

on

Gunmen kidnap another Catholic priest in Imo

Gunmen on Friday evening, abducted another Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, in Imo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Opara was abducted along Ejemekwuru and Ogbaku road between Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of the state.

An eyewitness said that the priest was kidnapped while returning from a burial ceremony of a colleague’s father at Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the priest was double-crossed and kidnapped along with some people in the same vehicle while driving back to Owerri.

“The incident happened right before us. We were also coming back to Owerri from the funeral ceremony when the incident occurred,” the source said.

READ ALSO:

When contacted for confirmation, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, could not confirm the report.

Okoye simply said “I am yet to receive an official report in line with that.”

However, the Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Raymond Ogu, who confirmed the incident, said the priest was ambushed and later kidnapped.

“It was on his way back from Izombe. These guys came out from the bush and ambushed them.

“They were about five people in the vehicle, including the priest, but one small boy among them in the vehicle escaped during the ambush.

“The hoodlums took the priest and the other three passengers away but at some point, they released the other three to take his car but they went away with priest into the bush,” Ogu said.

Opara’s abduction came barely a week after gunmen kidnapped the Priest of Christ the King Parish, Ezinachi/Ugwuago of the Diocese of Okigwe in Okigwe Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Jude Maduka.

It would be recalled that Maduka was kidnapped while preparing for the Eucharistic Mass celebration at his adoration ground.

A Catholic Priest of St. Paul’s Catholic Parish, Osu, in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Michael Asumogha, in Okigwe Catholic diocese was equally kidnapped in April and later released.

Gunmen kidnap another Catholic priest in Imo

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

Paris-bound businessman excretes 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine at Abuja airport

Published

24 minutes ago

on

December 29, 2024

By

Paris-bound businessman excretes 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine at Abuja airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine.

Mr Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that Orizu was intercepted while attempting to board an Air France flight 844 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA) Abuja to Paris, France.

He said that the suspect was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Sunday, Dec. 22 during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France.

READ ALSO:

“When he was pulled aside for a body scan, he turned down the request claiming his medical condition won’t allow him.

“He was thereafter taken into custody for excretion observation during which he excreted a total of 74 wraps of the Class A drugs over a period of seven days.

“In his statement, Orizu claimed he owns a shop at Balogun market, Lagos Island where he sells school and travel bags, adding that he was promised 3,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Paris.

“He left his base in Lagos for the Abuja airport to connect his Air France flight to Paris, hoping to escape detection,” he said.

Paris-bound businessman excretes 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine at Abuja airport

Continue Reading

metro

Police rescue 13 kidnap victims, arrest five suspected robbers

Published

42 minutes ago

on

December 29, 2024

By

Police rescue 13 kidnap victims, arrest five suspected robbers

Police Rescue 13 Kidnap Victims in Lagos and Kwara

In the past week, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) successfully rescued 13 individuals who had been abducted and held for ransom in Lagos and Kwara states.

The operation underscored the police’s commitment to combating kidnapping, armed robbery, and other criminal activities nationwide.

A statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relation Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “In a determined effort to sustain the fight against  kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of criminality across the country, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have further intensified and reinvigorated their strategies, resulting in the successful rescue of numerous victims and the apprehension of several suspects.

“Over the past week, coordinated operations were conducted in various states, including Lagos and Kwara States, leading to  the rescue of 13 individuals who had earlier been kidnapped and held for ransom, and the arrest of several armed robbery suspects.

READ ALSO:

“On the 27th of December 2024, Police operatives attached to the Kwara State Command mobilized and stormed a den of kidnappers in the Idofin-Igbana area of the state, after receiving a distress call of the abduction of 13 persons. The operatives encountered resistance from the kidnappers but successfully overpowered the kidnappers, causing them to flee the scene with various degrees of injuries and leading to the successful rescue of the 13 kidnapped victims.

“Similarly, on the 28th of December 2024, following a report of a public disturbance at Pinnacle Depot, Lekki, Police operatives attached to the Lagos State Command visited the scene and accosted two individuals identified as Lawan Mustapha ‘m’ 38 years, and Aina Daniel ‘m’ 38 years. A thorough search was carried out, resulting in the recovery of one double-barrel rifle, 90 live cartridges, and five model rifles.

“The suspects are currently in custody for further investigation and possible  prosecution. Furthermore, on the same day, at about 12:45 PM, Police operatives of the Lagos State Command arrested 3 suspected armed robbers at GRA Ikeja. A subsequent search led to the recovery of 1 locally made pistol, 4 live cartridges, and 2 cutlasses. These suspects are likewise in custody and will face prosecution upon the conclusion of the investigations”.

He said the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has reiterated the Force’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.

Egbetokun said the Force will continue its operations, leveraging all available resources to eradicate these heinous crimes from our society.

He said the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to create a safer environment for all Nigerians.

Police rescue 13 kidnap victims, arrest five suspected robbers

Continue Reading

metro

El-Rufai accuses Tinubu govt of Yoruba agenda, Reno Omokri reacts

Published

1 hour ago

on

December 29, 2024

By

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and Reno Omokri, former presidential aide

El-Rufai accuses Tinubu govt of Yoruba agenda, Reno Omokri reacts

Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, has refuted allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suggesting that President Bola Tinubu is advancing a “Yorubacentric” agenda in his appointments within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the financial sector.

In a detailed analysis shared on social media, Omokri dissected the composition of key federal appointments, particularly within the NNPCL, to debunk claims of ethnic favouritism.

Omokri shared the current structure of the NNPCL Board:

Chief Pius Akinyelure (Non-Executive Board Chairman): Southwest
Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari (Group CEO): Northeast
Adedapo Segun (Chief Financial Officer): Southwest
Mr. Ledum Mitee (Non-Executive Director): South-South
Mr. Musa Tumsa (Non-Executive Director): Northeast
Mr. Ghali Muhammad (Non-Executive Director): North-Central
Prof. Mustapha Aliyu (Non-Executive Director): Northwest
Mr. David Ogbodo (Non-Executive Director): Southeast
Ms. Eunice Thomas (Non-Executive Director): South-South
Omokri emphasized that only two board members hail from the Southwest, contrary to claims of ethnic dominance.

READ ALSO:

He also reviewed executive oversight at the cabinet level:

Heineken Lokpobiri (Minister of State for Petroleum Resources – Oil): South-South
Ekperikpe Ekpo (Minister of State for Petroleum Resources – Gas): South-South
Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella (Permanent Secretary, Petroleum Resources): North-Central

According to Omokri, the South-South enjoys the most significant representation, both at the board and executive levels.

Omokri also addressed leadership within the top revenue-generating agencies in Nigeria:

NNPCL: Mele Kyari (Northeast)
Nigerian Ports Authority: Abubakar Dantsoho (Northeast)
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria: Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku (Southwest)
Nigerian Communications Commission: Aminu Maida (Northwest)
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency: Dayo Mobereola (Southwest)
Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation: Bello Hassan (Northwest)

He noted that out of these six agencies, only two are led by individuals from the Southwest.

Omokri accused El-Rufai of engaging in “ethnic baiting” and spreading misinformation. He warned that such claims if left unchallenged, could create unnecessary tensions and destabilize market confidence.

“Flowing from the above, where is the Yorubanisation or Yorubacentricity?” Omokri queried.

 

El-Rufai accuses Tinubu govt of Yoruba agenda, Reno Omokri reacts

Continue Reading

Trending