AFRICA/NIGERIA – Two more Catholic priests kidnapped
Abuja (Agenzia Fides), – Two other priests were kidnapped from Nigeria. They are Fr. Peter Udo from St. Patrick’s Parish Uromi and Fr. Philemon Oboh from St. Joseph’s Refuge Center, Ugboha in Esan Local Government Area of Edo State, Southern Nigeria.
According to the Edo State Police on July 2, the two priests were abducted and taken to unknown locations by kidnappers. They blocked their car along the Benin Auchi highway between Iruekpen and Ehor. The bandits allegedly shot shots into the air and forced the priests to stop as they were returning from Benin City. Police claim that they have sent officers into the area to conduct an “aggressive and well-coordinated search” for the kidnappers and free the priests. One week ago, Father Christopher Odia Ogedegbe (state of Edo) was kidnapped and killed while he was en route to Auchi for mass.
Fr. Vitus Borogo, a Catholic priest, was killed in his home in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, on June 25. 700 priests protested peacefully in support of Vitus Borogo’s funeral and demanded greater security for themselves, as well for all Nigerian citizens (see Fides, 1/7/2022). Bandits are now able to target anyone with money, including politicians, businessmen, religious leaders, and schoolchildren from well-off families. Kidnapping for ransom is a major crime in Nigerian cities. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 4/7/2022)
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Source: fides.org