The Diocesan Chancellor said that all necessary measures are being considered to ensure that the Priest is released safely. He cautioned the faithful against any attempt to take the law in their hands concerning the abduction.
“We call on all men and women of goodwill to pray for his release from the hands of his abductors,” Fr. Ekeng said, and added, “While we solicit for an intense prayer for his quick and safe release, we equally wish to call on all not to take laws into their hands.”
Media reports indicate that the abductors of Fr. Uboh have requested a ransom of N100 million (US$ 2,410) to release the Priest.
According to the report, the incident occurred after the Parish women under Catholic Women Organization (CWO) had concluded their 2022 Mother’s Day celebrations and fundraising ceremony.
In a Wednesday, May 11 report, Bishop Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo of the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi decried the state of roads in the country saying that they have become impassable due to increasing cases of kidnapping.
“The Boko Haram upsurge has really impacted negatively on the economy and on the people… It is difficult to travel through Nigeria by road,” Bishop Oroko said.
The Nigerian Bishop highlighted widespread destruction especially from the central parts of Africa's most populous nation and described the rate at which insecurity is increasing as alarming and confusing.
He said in reference to abductions, “Of course, the other dimension of the herdsmen that are kidnapping and even destroying villages and settlements up in the North and now to the Middle Belt is a very disturbing factor.”
He blamed the rising cases of kidnapping to unemployment among the youth, saying, “They could be doing this because of the unemployment of the youth. This has therefore become a way of employment for them.”
Bishop Oroko blamed the international community for their slow response in helping to address the deteriorating security in the West African country.
