Anambra State | Suspected Fulani herdsmen kidnap Catholic priest, shoots two others; demand N2.5m ransom

The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday, disclosed that some suspected Fulani herdsmen have abducted the rector of Tansi Major Seminary, Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Dim.

Speaking with reporters at the Nnewi Catholic Diocese Media House, the Communication Director of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Hyginus Aghaulor stated that the herdsmen were armed with dangerous weapons including guns, and inflicted serious injuries on two other priests Rev. Frs. Jude Chukwuneke and Jude Ezeokana, during the attack.

Aghaulor disclosed that the incident happened on the September 26, around 7 pm along Nkpologwu/Nimbo Road Enugu State.

The Diocese said the three Catholic priests were returning from Nsukka to Onitsha and Nnewi, after a condolence visit to Rev. Fr. Uchenna Ezeh of Nsukka Diocese who lost his mother, before they were attacked and while Rev. Fr. Dim is still being held by the herdsmen, they are demanding a ransom of N2.5 million.

According to Aghaulor, “Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has decided and directed that ransom should not be paid for the kidnap of any of its priests and anybody that is demanding for ransom for the release of any priest kidnapped is wasting time.

“If anybody or group goes ahead to pay ransom for the release of any priest, the person or the group is on his own.

“Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka, who is the Chaplin of St Camillus de Lellis Chaplaincy, College of Health Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi ,who was shot on the head has been transferred from Memphis Specialist Hospital Enugu to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, where he is currently receiving treatment.

“On a separate place the same Monday 26th September, 2016, a Vincentian priest whose name is yet to be confirmed was also kidnapped with his brother along Abuja Lokoja express way, another Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ugwu was kidnapped on August 9,2014 along Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi and few weeks back a senior seminarian was killed in cold blooded in Attakwu, Enugu State, and one begins to wonder if Catholic priest have become endangered species.”

This is coming when the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged security agencies in the country to arrest herdsmen found in possession of AK 47 assault rifles