Gunmen have reportedly abducted a Catholic priest in-charge
of St. Patricks Catholic Church, Eku in Ethiope East Local Government
Area of Delta State, Rev. Fr. Joseph Oghenekevwe Ojakorotu.
Fr Ojakorotu was allegedly abducted along the Sapele-Eku
road in Sapele Local Government Area while returning from a journey to
Eku on Friday.
Sources also confirmed to our correspondent on Saturday that
the abductors have contacted some parishioners demanding N10 million
before he could be released.
A parishioner who pleaded for anonymity told our
correspondent that the catholic priest was waylaid at a bad portion
along the road by a group of arms-wielding young men who immediately
dragged him from his car into the bush.
The section of the road had been known to be notorious for
kidnapping and robbery activities owing to the failed portion of the
road, the source added.
Our source also confirmed the demand of a N10 million ransom for the Catholic Father.
The source added, “The kidnappers are demanding a N10
million ransom for his release. He was whisked away from his vehicle
yesterday (Friday).The kidnappers allegedly established contact with
some of the parishioners insisting the N10m must be paid before he will
be released.”
The spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew
Aniamaka, confirmed the abduction when contacted on telephone on
Saturday, stressing that the command was already making effort to
release the cleric unhurt.
Aniamaka said, “I can assure you that we shall not let these
criminals succeed in the state. We have already dispatched our
operatives to the area to ensure that the Catholic Father is rescued
unhurt. We shall surely also arrest the perpetrators to face the law.
Crime doesn’t thrive in Delta.”
He however warned that no ransom should be paid to the hoodlums as his men were already tracking them down.
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