CRIME NEWS Gunmen abduct Catholic Priest in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Catholic priest of Otukpo Diocese, Rev. Fr. Anthony Adikwu, who is the parish priest of St. Margaret’s Parish, Ajegbe Awume, in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.

An eyewitness who simply identified himself as Oche told our correspondent that some gunmen invaded the Awume community on Thursday night, precisely around 10pm and went straight to the church premises where they whisked the priest away.

He said, “Yesterday (Thursday) night at about 10pm, some gunmen stormed Ajegbe Awume, Ohimini Benue State, the kidnappers went straight to the church premises and kidnapped the Rev. father in charge of St. Margaret Parish.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene for Benue State command, confirmed the incident.

Anene adds “the information got to us this morning, (Friday) and we are working on it.”

Recall that a policeman and two civilians who were returning from a burial were on Tuesday kidnapped around Ahume along Makurdi/Naka road.

Chairman of Gwer West local government, Andrew Ayande told journalists that N1.7 million was demanded from the family of the kidnap victims.

Given an update on the kidnap on Friday, Ayande said that the kidnapped policeman and the other man later escaped from the Kidnappers’ den, saying that the female victim was Friday morning rescued by security operatives.

“Security operatives were able to rescue the female kidnap victim this (Friday) morning while the other victims; the policeman and the other man escaped from the Kidnappers’ den”, Ayande said.

The chairman however said that the female victim paid N400,000 as ransom.