GUNMEN have reportedly kidnapped an Anglican priest, identified as David Arinze Ajaefobi, in Anambra State.
Ajaefobi was the Archdeacon of Oyi Central Archdeaconry and Vicar of St. James’ Parish, Awkuzu, before he was kidnapped on Saturday, October 26.
A source told the Daily Post that Ajaefobi was abducted at around 9:00 pm on Saturday at the entrance gate of St. James’ Parish, Awkuzu, in the Oyi local government area of Anambra State.
According to the source, the abductors had not contacted the priest’s family to demand a ransom or to say why he had been kidnapped.
He added that prayer sessions for his safe release have been announced by the church.
An attempt to confirm the incident from the police public relations officer of Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, was unsuccessful, as he did not respond to messages sent to his mobile phone nor pick up his call.
Anambra State had been the hotbed for the kidnapping of priests in recent months.
In June 2024, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen, kidnapped a priest of the Catholic Church.
The priest identified as Ike was reportedly taken by the kidnappers around Amagu intersection, Ndiokpaleke in the Ajali community in the state’s Orumba North Local Government Area, along with another individual.
According to local witnesses, the attackers double-crossed the car the priest was driving in as he and a few other people were returning from an early morning mass at the St. Michael Catholic Church.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Ikenga, confirmed the incident and stated that the police had started searching for the victims by using their operational and intelligence resources in hopes of rescuing them unharmed.
The Diocese of Ekwulobia also confirmed the abduction in a letter from the Diocesan Chancellor, Lawrence Nwankwo, calling for prayers for the safe release of the kidnapped individuals.
Another priest, Basil Gbuzuo, was abducted by unidentified gunmen on May 15 in the vicinity of Onitsha.
Gbuzuo was later freed a few weeks later after his captors received an undisclosed sum of money.
A reporter with the ICIR
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