Kidnapped Enugu Catholic priest, Fr Madu released
About three days after he was kidnapped, a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Arinze Madu of Queen of Apostles Seminary, Imezi Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State, has regained his freedom.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed his release, said “the priest was released unhurt, Wednesday afternoon”.
Daily Trust recalls that the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led government recently procured and distributed security patrol vans equipped with communication gadgets to the security agencies in the state to aid their operations.
Also, the administration procured 260 vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles respectively which will soon be distributed to Neighbourhood Watch groups and Forest Guards for community policing.
Our correspondent reports that the state government had ordered the security agencies to ensure the release of the priest, thereby prompting the state police and other security agencies in the state to commence a manhunt for the kidnappers.
The priest was said to have been taken away by the gunmen at the gate of the institution on
Monday evening, dragging him to unknown place.
The development came barely two months and some days after Rev Fr Paul Ofuu was murdered on Thursday August 1, by herdsmen, who were later arrested and paraded by the Enugu State Commissioner of Police at the state police command.
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu, on its official Facebook page, also confirmed the release of the priest, stating that “Father Madu, the kidnapped priest of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu has been released”.
It added that Father Madu “was released this (Wednesday) afternoon from the kidnappers’ den.”
At the time of filing this report, there were no details about the release of the priest; whether a ransom was paid or the cleric escaped from the kidnappers’ hideout.
In a statement, Amaraizu stated that “the priest was allegedly abducted on Monday at about 5.50pm near the gate of the seminary as he was driving out of the premises.”
Also, commenting on the incident, the Enugu State Government “expressed deep concern about the unfortunate incident” and charged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that the priest was rescued unhurt.