Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Rev. Fr Victor Isiwu, Catholic Priest of St. Jude Catholic Church, Eburummiri, Ibagwa-Aka, Igboeze South Local Government Area, has allegedly been abducted by unknown persons.
A source from the parish disclosed that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the church premises when the priest was conducting adoration.
According to a source, who craved anonymity, the kidnappers entered the adoration ground after midnight and started shooting sporadically.
“As worshippers scampered for safety, they took away the priest.
“His whereabout is yet to be ascertained and there is no contact from the abductors,” he said.
In a related development, a former Commissioner for Rural Development in the State, Mr Gab Onuzuluike and his elder brother, Elvis, were murdered by gunmen at Mkpoloku in Oji River Local Government Area.
The late Onuzuluike, who was also a former Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area and his brother were said to be returning home after attending a burial.
Eye witnesses said that some security men chased the assailants and shut one down in the process.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Enugu State have confirmed the Oji River incident.
In a release obtained by Ikengaonline signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Daniel Ndukwe, DSP, police said two of the assailants were neutralised by a joint security team comprising the police and army
The statement read: “Two (2) of the assailants said to have infiltrated into Oji River from neighboring Anambra State community in the evening hours of 28/11/22.
“The attackers murdered one Mr Gabriel Onuzuluike (identified as former local government chairman of Oji River) and commissioner in Enugu State and his brother at Mkpokolo Achi in Oji River Local government Area, were neutralised by joint Police/Army team.
“The team swiftly responded to distress call on the incident and intercepted the hoodlums at Inyi Inyi community of the same LGA as they were escaping into Anambra State,” he said.
According to the PRO: “the team recovered an AK 47 rifle with two magazines loaded with ammunition, while a Toyota Landcruiser Jeep belonging to the deceased victims and a Toyota Camry car the assailants attempted to snatch from another victim and RAV 4 jeep they used for the heinous criminal operations amongst other incriminating items were also recovered.”
Police said that, manhunt of the assailants many of whom escaped into nearby forest with severe degrees of gunshots wounds, “in the ensuring gun duel as a result of the superior fire power of the team is still ongoing.”
Also, on Friday, two persons were reported to have been killed at Aguikpa community in Nkanu East Local Government Area by unknown persons.
One of the victims, Mr Ikechukwu Nnamani, a former President General Oruku Community, while the other was identified as, Mr Ndubuisi Nnamani, a native of Aguikpa community.
Sources disclosed that the gunmen laid an ambush somewhere near the health centre at Aguikpa community in the early hours of Friday and gunned down the two persons.
