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Crime & Punishment of Monday, 12 April 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Imo Catholic priest set free after one night in kidnappers den

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Reverend Father Izu Marcel Onyeocha, a Catholic Priest and lecturer at the Imo State University has been set free after he was kidnapped last Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Onyeocha was freed early hours of Monday, after spending a night in the kidnapper's den.

The priest was kidnapped around Ihube in Okigwe local government area of Imo state, as he was travelling from Owerri to Enugu state.

Reverend Father Onyeocha’s kidnap was said to have happened around 08:15 pm, on Sunday at the Ihube community in the Okigwe local government area of Imo state. A close source who confirmed it to newsmen said that Reverend Onyeocha is a Claretian priest.

The police had earlier reacted saying: “On the 11/04/21, one Bissong Isa Atugu “m”, reported that on the 10/03/21, at about 7:45 pm, while driving from Enugu to Owerri with a Nissan Exterra SUV, in company of 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 step down to check the vehicle, a group of people believed to be Fulani herdsmen emerged from the bush and inflicted matchet cut injuries on him, while the priest was kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.

“Sequel to the above, the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Nasiru Mohammed, has activated all the tactical teams of the Command, with a view to rescue 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.”