Gunmen who abducted a Catholic priest in Imo State, Rev. Prof. Izu Marcel Onyeocha have released him.
His release was confirmed in a statement on Monday by the Owerri provincial secretary of Claretian Missionaries, Rev. Fr. Matthew Iwuagwu.
He narrated that Fr. Onyeocha was dropped off at the Ihube Community in Okigwe council area of the state in the early hours of Monday.
The spokesman of the state police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, also confirmed the release.
Fr. Iwuagwu explained further that the kidnappers got frustrated as no one was willing to pay ransom for the kidnapped priest and were therefore forced to release him.
“With grateful hearts we wish to thank the Almighty God for the release of Fr. Izu Marcel Onyeocha from the den of the kidnappers.
“The Provincial Superior has spoken with him. He is in a stable condition.
“We wish to thank the Priests at St Mary Cathedral Okigwe for their care and hospitality.
“We also thank the security operatives for their assistance.
“We appreciate everyone who stormed heaven with prayers. God is ever faithful and He answered us.” Iwuagwu’s statement read.
Naija News recalls Onyeocha, who is also a professor of Philosophy at the Imo State University was kidnapped on Saturday evening along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Express Road at Ihube community in Okigwe council area of Imo state when he was returning from Enugu to Owerri.
Meanwhile, the presidency has described as untrue reports going about that the United States government has placed Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami on terror watch-list.
Naija News had reported earlier that Pantami has been allegedly placed on the US watch-list over an alleged link with the dreaded Boko Haram leader. It was alleged in the report that the Nigerian minister is an ally of the late Mohammed Yusuf, the late leader of Boko Haram.
It was also alleged that Pantami had ties with Abu Quatada al Falasimi and other Al-Qaeda leaders whom he revered and spoke highly of.
However, reacting to the reports on Monday morning, April 12, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, described the claims as fake news.
The presidential aide insisted that the Minister has never been on any US watchlist.