The priest identified as Reverend Father Marcellinus Okide, the parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Amofia Affa in the Udi local government area of the state was kidnapped around 5.30 p.m. on Sunday while he was returning to his parish.
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Catholic priest and six others in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.
The priest identified as Reverend Father Marcellinus Okide, the parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Amofia Affa in the Udi local government area of the state was kidnapped around 5.30 p.m. on Sunday while he was returning to his parish.
According to sources, Fr Okide was kidnapped by gunmen suspected to herdsmen along Eke-Affa-Egede Road.
His abduction comes barely 24 hours after 14 passengers were abducted along Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka Road while in another attack, a middle-aged man was shot and killed with several others left with bullet wounds in the Uzo-Uwani council area of the state.
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu State has confirmed the abduction of its priest and called on its followers and Nigerian Christians to pray for his safety.
In a statement issued by the Diocesan Communication Director, Rev Fr. Anthony Aneke urged the Catholic faithful to pray for his captors to have a change of heart and release him unharmed.
Titled “Enugu Diocesan Priest Kidnapped, Diocese Calls for Prayers,” Fr Aneke said that Fr Okide was kidnapped at approximately 5:00 p.m. while travelling along the Eke-Egede-Affa Road in Nigeria.
The statement partly read: “In a troubling incident, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Obioma Okide, a Catholic priest, was abducted on September 17, 2023, at approximately 5:00 p.m. while travelling along the Eke-Egede-Affa Road in Nigeria. Fr. Okide, who serves at St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish, was en route to his parish when the unfortunate incident occurred.
“The diocese has issued a fervent appeal to the faithful and the public at large for prayers, hoping for the swift and safe release of Fr. Okide. Additionally, they are calling for a change of heart on the part of the kidnappers. This distressing event highlights the ongoing challenge of kidnappings in the region.
“Rev. Fr. Wilfred Chidi Agubuchie, the Diocesan Chancellor and Secretary, issued the plea, invoking the Lord’s intervention to free Fr. Okide from the clutches of his captors and to safeguard the nation of Nigeria. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the security issues plaguing the country, and the need for concerted efforts to address them.”
Meanwhile, sources told SaharaReporters that the kidnappers had already contacted the relatives of the victims and demanded a ransom of N100 million before the Catholic priest and other captives would be released.
It was also gathered that the kidnappers left the children of the victims inside their cars before the arrival of police personnel, who later evacuated them from the scene.
Meanwhile, the state police command has kept mum and its spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, did not answer his calls.
However, police personnel at Udi Division are said to be combing the area to secure the release of the Catholic priest and other victims.
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