Gunmen have struck again in Anambra State, abducting a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Christian Ike, and a parishioner, Mr. Ogbonnia Aneke, from St. Matthew Catholic Church in Ajalli, Orumba North Local Government Area. This incident comes just a month after another priest, Rev. Basil Gbuzuo, was kidnapped and later rescued by security operatives.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the kidnapping in a press release, stating that they received the information and deployed intelligence and operational assets for a possible rescue operation.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga stated, “Eyewitness account revealed that by 10:30 am on 16/6/2024, the priest and two others were returning from St Micheal Catholic Church Ndiokpaleke where they attended Morning Service, along Amagu Junction.”
“They were double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles, while the other two escaped the scene, the criminals took away the priest and some personal belongings of the occupants in the vehicle,”he added.
The Diocesan Chancellor of the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo, also addressed the incident in a letter to parishes in the Ekwulobia Diocese, calling for prayers for the release of the abducted individuals.
“Please pray for the release of Rev. Fr. Christian Ike and Mr. Ogbonnia Aneke, who were kidnapped this morning around 9.45 a.m as they were returning from Mass in an outstation of St. Matthew’s Parish, Ajalli, Orumba North L.G.A,” the statement read.
In a separate development, the Anambra State Police Command announced the arrest of a gunrunner, Felix Owaya, from Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, in Onitsha.
The statement read, “On 15/6/2024 by 1:30 pm, police operatives attached to Fegge division while on patrol along Niger Street, Onitsha arrested one Felix Owaya ‘M’ aged 48yrs of Ika South LGA of Delta State, the operatives recovered 375 live cartridges from him. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was sent by one Mr Charles Ogboma to a man he is yet to mention to collect the ammunition. Meanwhile, the investigation is still ongoing.”
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has directed all personnel in the command to sustain the tempo of crime prevention and detection in service of the people of the state.
