Gunmen on Thursday night kidnapped the Catholic priest of St Michael’s Catholic Church parish in Umuekebi community in the Osuoweerre autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev Father Kingsley Eze, popularly known as Father Ichie.
The priest and another man identified as Uchenna Newman, who drove the priest in a Volvo jeep were kidnapped at Orie ama junction around 8pm on Thursday.
Apart from the kidnap of the priest and the man who drove him, the criminals also robbed shop owners at the junction before leaving the scene.
A parishioner who doesn’t want to be mentioned told PUNCH that the congregants were terrified by the abduction of the priest and the other person.
The source said “It is true. Our parish priest, Rev’d Fr Kingsley Eze popularly known as father Ichie has been kidnapped. He was kidnapped alongside Mr uchenna Newman, at Orie ama junction on Thursday around 8pm.
“They alighted in a Volvo jeep to buy something at the junction before they were kidnapped. The attackers also robbed businessmen at the junction. This is so unfortunate. We sincerely pray for the safe return of our parish priest and Mr Uchenna.”
“They came with two motorbikes and as they were going, they took the car belonging to the priest and the artisan. They also shot and unfortunately one person was hit by the bullet. The injured victim was rushed to a hospital very late last night.”
The spokesperson for the police in the State, Henry Okoye, had yet to react to the incident.
SaharaReporters on Thursday reported that gunmen who were on the rampage in Imo State struck again, killing a businessman who is based in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
The businessman, Linus Nmuo, popularly known as Sakatan, was killed at his country home at Umuezikegbu in Egbuoma community in the Oguta LGA in the early hours of the day.
They shot him repeatedly, making sure he was dead before they left the scene.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Imo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the gruesome killing of the traditional ruler of Otulu Autonomous Community in Ezinihitte-Mbaise Council area of the state, His Royal Highness, Eze Joe Achulor.
According to reports, some gunmen operating as kidnappers allegedly shot and killed the ruler, last Saturday evening.
His assassination is coming barely 24 hours after the gunmen also assassinated the ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the nearby Ife/Akpodim/Chokoneze Ward in the same Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the State, Chiedoziem Anyanwu.
