A priest with the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Reverend Father Joseph Igweagu, has been kidnapped in Anambra State.
Father Igweagu, the parish priest in charge of St Joseph’s Parish, Abata Nsugbe, Anambra East Local Government Area of the State, has been missing since October 12.
He was abducted while returning after celebrating a Funeral Vigil Mass at Umunnachi in the Njikoka Local Government Area of the State.
A statement on Tuesday by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha said the Archdiocese is doing everything possible to secure his freedom.
It was, however, silent on whether his abductors had called to demand ransom or not.
The statement titled, ‘An urgent call for sincere prayer – Re: Kidnap of Rev. Fr Joseph Igweagu’ and signed by the Archdiocesan Chancellor of Catholics Archdiocese of Onitsha, Reverend Father Prudentius Emeja Aroh, reads: “It is with shock but strong faith in the love and protection of God that we announce to the priests, religious, lay faithful of Onitsha Archdiocese and all men and women of goodwill, the abduction of our Priest, Rev. Fr. Joseph Igweagu, the Parish Priest of St Joseph Parish, Abata Nsugbe.
“Rev. Fr. Joseph was kidnapped while returning to his house after celebrating a funeral vigil mass at Umunnachi on Wednesday evening, October 12, 2022. We solicit sincere prayer for his unconditional release from the hands of his abductors. The Archdiocese of Onitsha is doing everything possible to secure his freedom.
“While we pray for the conversion of his abductors, we call on our Mother Mary, the undoer of knots, to intercede on his behalf so that he will be quickly released unhurt.”
According to a statement by Aid to the Church in Need, at least 18 priests had been kidnapped in Nigeria as of July, with 5 in the first week of July alone. There have been further reports of a few other abductions since then.
Many of these people are kidnapped for ransom and are released after they have been paid. However, some others are killed by their abductors.
Nigerian authorities say that they are employing urgent measures to ensure better protection of the lives and properties of citizens.
