Two Catholic Priests in Uromi Diocese, Nigeria, Kidnapped

“The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugboha police Division has called to inform that one Rev Father Amos Abhulimen on Saturday came to the station to report the kidnap of the two Rev Fathers,” Edo state police command spokesman, Chidi Nwanbuzor, has been quoted as saying in a July 3 report. 

According to the report, “The two Catholic Priests were kidnapped between Ehor and Iruekpen along the Benin-Ekpoma Express Way on their way to Uromi from Benin city, the Edo state capital.”

"The two Catholic Priests had attended a program in Benin City on Saturday, July 2, 2022 and were returning to base when their vehicle rammed into some unknown gunmen who violently intercepted their car," the report further indicates.

The July 3 report indicates that “the suspected gunmen fired several gunshots into the air which forced the car that had the two Catholic Priests to stop.”

Fr. Udo and Fr. Oboh were reportedly forced into the bush by the gunmen.

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“Based on the report, the state Commissioner of Police Abutu Yaro, has dispatched a team of policemen as a reinforcement to the men of Ugboha division to go for the rescue of the two Catholic Priests unhurt and get the kidnappers arrested,” Nwanbuzor says in his July 3 statement.

The West African nation of Nigeria “is grappling with a wave of violence by armed gangs who frequently carry out killings and kidnappings for ransom – mostly in unprotected rural communities,” BBC News reported in April.

Since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgency emerged with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state, Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity.

Boko Haram, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians.

The insecurity situation has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia, who have been clashing frequently with Christian farmers.