Benue Police Deny Attack On Catholic Bishop’s Residence In Otukpo

The Benue State Police Command has said there was no imminent attack on the residence of Catholic bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Apochi, in Otukpo Local Government area of Benue state.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP over the reported attack on Bishop’s Residence in Otukpo by suspected bandits, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said for now there was a case of missing Seminarian reported by some catholic priests.

The police said there was no prove that the seminarian was abducted until further investigations reveal more details.

According to the police, “Sometimes, last two weeks, there was an incident some people tried to obstruct the house. So, according to them the seminarian escaped but they never reported to the police. So, we are suspecting that it might be an abduction, but there’s nothing to prove abduction yet”

“For now we are tagging it a missing person till further investigation reveals more details for us and that is what we have on ground for now. There was no imminent attack on the Bishop’s residence and it was even the priests from the Bishop residence that came and reported to the police” the Command’s spokesperson stated.

Gunmen have reportedly invaded the residence of a Catholic bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Apochi, in Otukpo Local Government area of Benue state.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo, confirmed that the seminarian was whisked away during the attack.

The statement added that the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Apochi, called for prayers for safe return of the abducted seminarian and other abductors still in captivity.