JUST-IN: Gunmen  Kidnap Catholic Priest, Others In Imo 

Gunmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, and others, on Friday.

The priest was kidnapped along Ejemekwuru-Oguta  and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of Imo State.

Eyewitness told our Correspondent that the priest popularly known as Owu Ujo was waylaid by the hoodlums while driving back to Owerri, the State capital.

The priest was said to have attended the burial rites of the father of one of his colleagues at Izombo community of Oguta LGA.

According to the source, the cleric is in charge of Man of Order and Discipline,  the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.

According to the source, “Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara popularly known as Owu Ujo has just been kidnapped along Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road. He was kidnapped alongside others, riding in the same vehicle.

“The incident happened right before us. We were also coming back to Owerri from the funeral rites of the father of another Catholic priest at Izombo in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.”

When contacted, the Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev Fr Raymond Ogu, confirmed the Kidnap of the priest.

Recall that last week, the Catholic priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic church at Ezinachi/Ugwuago, in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state, Jude Maduka, was kidnapped.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations officer, PPRO Henry Okoye, stressed that the Command has put measures in place so as to arrest the suspects.