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Prayer Appeal Being Sought for Catholic Priest Kidnapped from Nigeria’s Okigwe Diocese

Fr. Michael Ifeanyi Asomugha, kidnapped from Nigeria’s Okigwe Diocese on 15 April 2023. Credit: Courtesy Photo

By Jude Atemanke

Okigwe, 28 April, 2023 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).

Prayers are being sought for the safe release of Fr. Michael Ifeanyi Asomugha, the Catholic Priest reportedly abducted on April 15 from Nigeria’s Okigwe Diocese.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa Thursday, April 27, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Catholic Diocese provides details about the abduction of Fr. Ifeanyi who serves as Curate of St Paul’s Parish Osu of Okigwe Diocese.

“I am directed to inform you that one of our Priests, Rev. Fr. Michael Ifeanyi Asomugha was kidnapped on the evening of Saturday, April 15, 2023,” Fr. Princewill Iwuanyanwu says in the statement.

Fr. Iwuanyanwu adds that Fr. Ifeanyi who was ordained a Priest in September. 2021 “was kidnapped along Oriagu-Obowo road in Imo state, while on his way back from the Diocesan Diaconate Ordination.”

In the statement, the Chancellor of Okigwe Diocese shares the prayer appeal of the Local Ordinary of the Nigerian Episcopal See, Bishop Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu.

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“We solicit your fervent prayers that he may come back to us safe and sound while trusting in your goodwill and solidarity,” Fr. Iwuanyanwu says.

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

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

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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