“God answered our prayers”: Nigerian Catholic Diocese on Release of Abducted Priest

Abakaliki, 13 July, 2023 / 9:30 PM

The release of Fr. Joseph Azubuike, the Nigerian Catholic Priest who was abducted on July 10 while returning from pastoral duties in Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese, is a fruit of prayers, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese has said.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, Fr. Matthew Uzoma Opoke says that Fr. Azubuike was set free “together with the other three persons” who had also been kidnapped the same day.

“It is a thing of joy that God answered our prayers and gazetted the unconditional release of His servant in a very remarkable way,” Fr. Uzoma says about the July 11 release of the Parish Priest of St. Charles Mgbaleze Isu Parish of Abakaliki Diocese.

He adds, “We are grateful to God for effecting this release. We are grateful to all those who swung into action on hearing the ugly news of his abduction together with three other persons.”

The Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese thanks the Governor of Ebonyi State “for his determination and concern towards the safety of those who were abducted.”

“We thank the security agencies and the Youths of Isu Community. We thank you for your prayers,” he adds.

Fr. Uzoma implores, “We pray God to, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints, continue to deliver us from all evils. Amen.”

In his earlier statement following the abduction of Fr. Azubuike, the Chancellor of Abakaliki Diocese had appealed for prayers, saying, “The abductors are making financial demands but with your prayers, we are going to have them back unconditionally. May Mary, Mother of priests, intercede for us. Amen.”

The July 10 kidnapping of Fr. Azubuike is the latest in a series of abductions that have targeted members of the Clergy in Africa’s most populous nation.

The West African nation has been battling a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, kill.

The country has been experiencing the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009, a group that allegedly aims at turning Africa’s most populous nation into an Islamic country.