Police begin search as gunmen abduct Anambra Catholic priest

Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have kidnapped an Anambra State-based priest of the Catholic Church, Reverend Father Christian Ike.

Ike was said to have been whisked away by the assailants alongside one other person, on Sunday, along Amagu junction, Ndiokpaleke in Ajali community in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

The reason for the incident has yet to be ascertained, but eyewitnesses in the area said the priest was returning alongside some other persons from an early morning Mass at the St. Michael Catholic Church, when the vehicle he was moving in, was double-crossed by the assailants.

This is just as the Anambra State Police Command spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development, said the police had begun a search for the victims by deploying their intelligence and operational assets for their possible rescue unhurt.

The eyewitnesses in the area said, “The priest and some other persons were returning from St. Michael Catholic Church, where they attended a morning service.

“On getting to the Amagu Junction, their vehicle was double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles. While two other persons escaped the scene, the assailants took away the priest and one other person, including some personal belongings of the occupants in the vehicle.”

The Diocese of Ekwulobia confirmed the abduction in a letter from the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo, calling for prayers for the safe release of the kidnapped individuals.

The letter partly read, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, call for prayers. Kidnap case, Rev. Fr. Christian Ike. Please pray for the release of Rev. Fr. Christian Ike and Mr Ogbonnia Anike, who were kidnapped this morning around 9:45am as they were returning from Mass in an outstation of St. Matthew’s Parish, Ajalli, Orumba North L.G.A.”

This will be the second incident in two months as another priest, Reverend Father Basil Gbuzuo, was kidnapped near Onitsha, on May 15, by unknown gunmen.

Gbuzuo was later released some weeks later after some undisclosed amount of money was paid to his captors.

Reacting further, the police spokesperson said the command heard about the incident and immediately deployed their intelligence and operational assets to the area.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command received the information of the abduction of Rev Father Christian Ike and has deployed its intelligence and operational assets of the command for possible rescue unhurt.

“Eyewitness account revealed by 10:30am on 16/6/2024, the priest and two others were returning from St. Michael Catholic Church, Ndiokpaleke, where they attended a morning service, along the 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.

“To this end, the command has activated its intelligence and operational assets for possible arrest of the assailants and rescue unhurt of the priest.”

He added that further developments shall be communicated as they unfold.