The Nigeria Owerri Catholic Archdiocese has recently appealed to all Christians of Goodwill for Prayers for the “quick and safe release” of her Abducted Priest. The Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA, based in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, has reported that the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri in faraway Nigeria is appealing for prayers for the speedy and “safe release” of Fr. John Ubaechu, who was abducted on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement shared with all the priests of the archdiocese on their central platform, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Catholic Archdiocese, Fr. Patrick C. Mbarah, provides details about the abduction of the Parish Priest of Holy Family Izombe Parish of Owerri Archdiocese.
“The sad incident occurred along Ejemekwuru road in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State,” Fr. Mbarah says in the Monday, March 24 statement. When contacted by the Director of Communications and editor of this journal, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Fr. Reginald Egbu, lamented the vulnerability of the priests in Nigeria. With a heavy sigh, he bemoaned the poverty of the security apparatus in the Nigerian society and particularly in their area, called Imo State. He made it clear that the kidnapper had contacted the archdiocese on the phone and placed a huge amount for a ransom on the head of the priest in question. He used this medium to plead that these kidnappers should freely release this harmless servant of God.
The Vicar General of this Nigerian Archdiocese adds that Fr. Ubaechu “was kidnapped on his way to the Priests’ Annual Retreat.”
“We invite all Christ’s Faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of our Priest,” Fr. Egbu concluded.
He finally prayed almost in tears, “We commend our brother, Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors.”
It will be recalled that insecurity is rife in Nigeria, where kidnappings, murder, and other forms of persecution against Christians remain rampant in many parts of the West African country, especially in the north.
On March 5, Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan was murdered, a day after his abduction.
The latest abduction of Fr. Ubaechu follows a series of other kidnappings that have targeted Catholic Priests in Africa’s most populous nation.
On February 6, Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, a member of the Clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Shendam and student at Veritas University Abuja in the West African nation was abducted and later escaped from captivity.
Later, on February 19, Fr. Moses Gyang Jah of St. Mary Maijuju Parish of Shendam Diocese was abducted alongside his niece and the Parish Council Chairman, Mr. Nyam Ajiji. The Parish Council Chairman was reportedly killed. Fr. Jah and his niece are yet to be freed.
On February 22, Fr. Matthew David Dutsemi and Fr. Abraham Saummam were abducted from the Catholic Diocese of Yola. They were later released.
And the Seminarian abducted on March 3 from a Parish Rectory in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Auchi alongside Fr. Philip Ekweli was murdered by his abductors. Fr. Ekweli was set free.
Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state. Catholic Bishops in the country have continually challenged the government to prioritize the security of the citizens.
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