Gunmen Demand N15m Ransom For Catholic Priest

The parish priest of Emmanuel Catholic Church, Oviri-Okpe in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Rev Christopher Ogaga, has been abducted.
The abductors of the cleric have demanded N15 million ransom for his release.

It was gathered that Ogaga, who is the priest of two other parishes of the church – St Luke’s Catholic Church, Oviri Okpe, and St Jude’s Catholic Church Aghalopke – is also the head teacher of St. Peter’s Clavers College, Aghalokpe.

A source told The Nation that the cleric was abducted on Saturday night while traveling to Warri to help the parish priest of Mother of Redeemer Catholic Church, Airport Junction, Effurun, in the three masses slated for Sunday morning.

The source said Ogaga was driving on the Arava-Oviri-Orere-Okpe Road, the normal route to Warri, when he was seized. No one could identify the exact part of the road where he was abducted.

“He left the house and he was heading to Warri through Arava-Oviri-Orere-Okpe Road. That is the route he used to take to Warri. We are suspecting that he might have been kidnapped along this route.

“He was driving alone when the incident happened because he usually travels to Warri alone on Sundays. We were supposed to go with him that Saturday but we did not go with him,” the source said.

Police Commissioner Muhammad Mustafa said the command had begun a search for the abducted priest.

He added: “Yes, we are searching for the kidnappers. The cleric was kidnapped two days ago.”