Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Catholic Priest

Kidnapped Kaduna Catholic Priest Regains Freedom

Reverend Father Joseph Shekari who was kidnapped by gunmen has regained freedom after 48 hours in captivity.

The Chancellor of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo confirmed the release.

He said Reverend Father Shekari was released at about 10:00 pm on Monday night.

Okolo however, did not state if any ransom was paid to the gunmen or not before they released the Reverend Father.

He appreciated those who offered prayers for the quick release of the priest and prayed for the repose of the soul of the cook who was killed during the kidnap.

The bandits on Sunday night stormed St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Parish, in Ikulu Pari of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and made way with the priest.

The gunmen also killed the Reverend Father’s cook, who is a secondary school student, before taking the priest away to an unknown destination.

It was also reported that the gunmen carted away an unspecified amount of money realised from a thanksgiving service on that Sunday.

February 8, 2022
Pastor allegedly kidnaps Catholic priest, Collects N1.5m ransom in Imo

A pastor of the Apostolic Church of Christ in Lagos identified as pastor Izuchukwu Anoloba, 35, has been arrested by the Imo State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a Catholic priest, Fidelis Ekemgba.

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini made this known while parading the ‘pastor’ alongside other suspects in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The CP revealed that the Catholic Priest who was double-crossed and whisked away by a deadly syndicate, spent about seven days in captivity prior to the arrest.

According to him, the 45-year-old priest in charge of St. Peters Catholic parish in Umunohu Amakaohia in the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of the state was forced to pay N5 million to the abductors before he was released.

He noted that the suspect was arrested in Lagos State following intelligence gathering by men of the anti-kidnapping unit of the command who went into action immediately the command was informed of the incident.

The CP commended his men for an excellent job, stating that he would continue to make the state uncomfortable for criminals.

While answering questions from journalists, Anoloba, said that he got N1.5m from the ransom the priest paid them.

He said, “I am a pastor with the Apostolic Church of Christ in Lagos. I got N1.5 million from the kidnap of the priest.

“I never knew I will be arrested. I regret my actions because I am now a disgrace to the body of Christ and my family.”

December 3, 2021
Bandits Abducts Catholic Priest In Kaduna

A Reverend father of the Catholic church has been kidnapped by gunmen in Kaduna state.

The incident comes barely four days after eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God were abducted by bandits in the Kachia local government of the state.

Police authorities are yet to confirm the latest incident.

However, the Director of communication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Reverend Father Stephen Onyema told Channels Television that the Reverend Father, Anthony Dawah was abducted alongside the wife of the catechist at Dogon Kurmi village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

March 31, 2021
38-year-old Catholic priest drowns in Bayelsa flood

A 38-year-old Catholic priest, Fr. Francis Ighorurhie drowned at the flooded area of Kaiama Community in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Thursday night, October 15.

Fr. Francis Ighorurhie, a Missionary of St. Paul (MSP) from Warri, Delta State, was until his death the Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Kaiama.

Reports had it that the deceased fell into the water on his way to his residence from a wooden bridge popularly known as “Monkey bridge.

According to reports, a section of the wooden bridge had been submerged by the rising water making walking on the slippery structure a difficult task for users.

A priest who confirmed the incident said,

“This is a sad moment for us, Father was on his way back from Bomadi in Delta State when he met his untimely death. But for the flood, he could have driven his car straight to his residence instead parking same by the road,”

“It was as he was walking on the wooden bridge part of which had been submerged that he slipped and got drowned. Those staying at his residence had to raise alarm when they saw his car by the roadside and he was nowhere to be found. They, however, became suspicious when they saw a bag containing some provision floating on the water not far from the bridge. Divers were contracted and his remains were recovered.”

He added that his remains had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

In a similar incident, two school pupils also drowned along the good news area of Azikoro Town in Yenagoa local government area of the state.

The two dead pupils, primary and nursery levels, were reportedly swept away by the flood on their way home from school.

Meanwhile friends have taken to Facebook to mourn the priest’s death. See posts below..

October 17, 2020
Palm Sunday: Use Holy Week to pray for Nigeria, Cleric urges Christians

A Catholic Priest, Rev. (Fr) Lawrence Ogundipe, has urged Christians to use this Holy Week of Jesus Christ’s crucification and resurrection to pray for the end of novel Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Completion of track laying work on Lagos-Ibadan railway excites group

Ogundipe of St. Leo Catholic Church, Otun Abeokuta Diocese, gave the advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Sunday in Abeokuta, saying that the country needed God’s intervention to end the virus ravaging the world.

The priest said that Palm Sunday ushers in the beginning of the Holy Week, which was the last week of Lent in the Orthodox Christians’ calendar.

He said that the Holy Week was a time for prayer, reflection and spiritual works.

”At this critical time of the Coronavirus pandemic, Christians should take advantage of the Holy Week and cry to God for his mercies, intervention and solution to end the disease,” Ogundipe said.

He also advised Christians to obey those directives given by the Federal and State Governments, especially the stay-at-home rules to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

“The lockdown is not a new thing; we saw it already happened in the Book of Genesis Chapter Six, when God told Noah to build an ark and he shut down the whole world for 40 days and 40 nights.

“Within that period, there was rain that flooded and cleansed every where, and it was only those that obeyed the commandment of stay indoor that were saved.

“So, at this period, the government is asking us to stay indoor, also the Church is appealing to members to stay indoor, so that the face of the earth can be cured of this pandemic again,” he said.

The cleric urged Christians to stay in their various homes to pray and observe the Holy Week.

According to him, Jesus said where two or more people gather in His Name, He is there in their midst.

Ogundipe said there were many more years to celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter, noting that it was better to be alive first before we could think of coming out to celebrate.

He, however, said that priests were playing their roles in raising their hands together to pray for the country, the scientists, doctors and for every thing to be normal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Palm Sunday is celebrated on Sunday preceeding Easter in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

April 5, 2020