Police: Suspected herdsmen kidnapped Imo Catholic priest

The Imo State Police command has linked the kidnap of an Imo Catholic priest, Rev. Prof. Izu Marcel Onyeocha, to some suspected herdsmen.

Its spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, in a statement on behalf of Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Muhammed, said the cleric was kidnapped when his car developed fault at Ihube in the Okigwe Local Government Area.

The victim, a lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities at the Imo State University, is a native of Avuru Community in the Ikeduru council area of the state.

The statement read in part, “On the 11/04/21, one Bissong Isa Atugu ‘m’, reported that on the 10/03/21, at about 7:45pm ,while driving from Enugu to Owerri with a Nissan Exterra SUV, in company with one Rev. Fr. Marcel Izu Onyeocha of Mother Theresa of Golgotha Catholic Church, World Bank Owerri, the vehicle developed fault around Ihube in Okigwe LGA, and as they stepped down to check the vehicle, a group of people believed to be herdsmen emerged from the bush and inflicted matchet cut injuries on him while the priest was kidnapped and taken to unknown destination.

“Sequel to the above, the Commissioner of Police for Imo State , CP Nasiru Mohammed, has activated all the tactical teams of the command, with a view to rescuing the priest, and possibly arrest the culprits.

“He however calls for calm as the command will do everything possible to ensure the rescue of the priest.”