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Two religious sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have been abducted in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria, amid a growing wave of kidnappings and violence in the country. Sister Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Sister Grace Mariette Okoli were taken on Tuesday, January 7, while returning from a professional meeting in Ogboji. Heavily armed assailants intercepted the sisters along the Ufuma road, a region increasingly known for its insecurity.

Sister Vincentia Maria, the principal of Archbishop Charles Heerey Memorial Model Secondary School in Ufuma, and Sister Grace Mariette, a teacher at Immaculata Girls Model Secondary School in Nnewi, are highly regarded for their dedication to education and their congregation. Their abduction has caused deep concern among the Catholic community and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Mother of Christ (IHM). On January 8, Sister Maria Sobenna Ikeotuonye, Secretary General of the IHM, expressed the congregation’s profound sorrow over this act of violence. In a heartfelt appeal, the congregation called for fervent prayers for the sisters’ swift and unconditional release, entrusting their safety to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This incident highlights the broader challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, where armed groups and criminal gangs frequently engage in kidnappings for ransom and violent attacks. Clergy and religious figures have become increasingly frequent targets of these criminal acts. Additionally, the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram, an extremist group active since 2009, further exacerbates the country’s security crisis.

The kidnapping of Sister Vincentia Maria and Sister Grace Mariette underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to restore peace and ensure safety in affected regions. In the meantime, prayers and solidarity remain vital in supporting the sisters and their loved ones through this ordeal.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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