Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
Unidentified gunmen Friday, abducted a Catholic priest, the Reverend Father Mattias Opara, along Ejemekwuru-Izombe Road in Oguta Local Government Area.
The Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary, Reverend Father Patrick Mbarah, of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri confirmed the incident to newsmen in Owerri, in a letter dated Friday, May 26, 2023.
It was learnt the incident happened while the victim was driving home after he attended a burial ceremony.
The Reverend Father Opara, is the Parish Priest of Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Obosima in Owerri West council area of the state.
This incident has increased the number of kidnapped Catholic Priests in Imo to two in the past one week.
Last Sunday it was the Catholic priest of Christ the King Parish, Ezinachi/Ugwaku, with the Okigwe Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Jude Maduka, in the Okigwe council area of Imo state.
Recall that in the same Oguta area, where Father Mattias Opara, was kidnapped, last Thursday, a traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo in the Oguta LGA, HRH Eze Victor Ijioma, was shot and set ablaze by unidentified gunmen.
However, at the time of filing this report, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okafor, was yet to respond to inquiries by Ikengaonline.
