The parish priest of St. Margaret Catholic Church in the Ajegbe-Awume area of Ohimini Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, John Otache, who was abducted on October 13, has regained his freedom.
Aondogu Orchia, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, disclosed in a statement on Monday that security personnel rescued Otache and five other kidnap victims on Sunday.
According to NAN, the police spokesperson said the victims were taken to Otukpo Teaching Hospital for medical examinations.
The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, in a statement signed by its chancellor, Joseph Itodo, said the priest was travelling home from Otukpo when he encountered his abductors along the Otobi Amejo-Ajegbe road in the local government area.
Itodo expressed sadness over the incident, noting that Michael Apochi, Bishop of the Otukpo Diocese, was deeply pained by the development.
Otache’s abduction occurred three months after Kelvin Ochai, a seminarian, was kidnapped from the bishop’s residence in Otukpo.
Following “repeated attacks”, the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, a town in Benue State, ordered the temporary closure of its institutions in Ihugh, a community in Vandeikya LGA, on Tuesday.
The directive was announced in a statement signed by William Avenya, the diocese’s bishop, and Marcellinus Wende, its chancellor.
Ihugh is the hometown of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, who reportedly served as a Catholic priest under the diocese before venturing into politics.
The affected institutions include St Winifred Girls Secondary School, St Thomas Hospital, St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, and St Winifred Parish, all located in Ihugh.
The directive also ordered the withdrawal of pastoral agents from the community.