A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Peter Amodu, was kidnapped along Otukpo-Ugbokolo road in Benue State, on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened while the priest was on his way to a nearby community to celebrate Holy mass.
A witness said the area of the incident is notorious for criminality, adding that the criminals were either robbing on the road or abducting road users.
Director of Communication of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Reverend Father John Okpotu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on telephone.
Okpotu said that the abductors of the priest have not yet opened talks with relevant persons.
Similarly, the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo in an official release to all priests, religious and lay faithful, disclosed that “Fr. Peter Amodu, a priest of the Holy Ghost parish, Eke-Olengbenche was kidnapped on July 6 at about 5pm along Otukpo-Ugbokolo road while he was on his way to celebrate the Holy mass at Okwungaga-Ugbokolo.”
The release signed by Reverend Father Joseph Aboyi Itodo, indicated that the Local Ordinary, Most Reverend, Michael Apochi, called on faithful to pray for the speedy release of the priest from the den of his captors.
But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, did not respond to calls or text messages put through her telephone to comment about the incident at the time of filing this report.
