KIDNAPPED CATHOLIC PRIEST RELEASED

Kidnapped Catholic Priest Released

By Innocent Ugwoke

 Monday September 26, 2016 would remain an unforgettable sad day in the hearts of Nsukka indigenes as unidentified hoodlums suspected to be Fulani Herdsmen carried out yet another coordinated attack along the boundary between Obimo village in Nsukka Local Government Area and Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, all in Enugu State.

The unidentified hoodlums suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked three catholic priests around 6pm on their way home from a condolence visit to their priest friend Rev Fr Uchenna  Ezeh at St Mary’s Parish Eha-Alumonah, in Catholic Diocese of Nsukka.

The attack left Fr, Jude Chetanna Chukwuneke the driver with bullet wounds in the head ,Fr Jude Ezeokana, with injuries and bruises after their car fell into a bush and Fr Emmanuel Dim the Rector of Blessed Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha kidnapped but as at this report the cleric has been released by the hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen two days after his kidnap. Fr Chukwuneke is a priest of Catholic Diocese of Nnewi while Frs Ezeokana and Emmanuel Dim are both priests of Catholic Diocese of Awka.

Narrating their ordeals to newsmen, Fr Chukwuneke recalled how they came upon a figure on the road holding firmly to a gun at about 200metres ahead and looking back spotted another figure. On seeing the danger ahead, Fr Chukwneke said he immediately decided to take the option of escaping by engaging the reverse gear. According to the clergy, these were the last he remembered doing.  It was amidst this scenario that the hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen tracked down their victims and shot sporadically into their car a Toyota highlander jeep with reg. no KRD 568. DH, blue colour. as a result of this sporadic shooting, one of their bullets wounded rev Fr Jude Chetanna Chukwuneke on the head , while rev Fr Jude Ezeokana was hit by the kidnappers bullet in the right leg.

The driver of the car Fr Chukwuneke, fearing for his life asked Fr Ezeokana who was in the passenger’s seat in front to perform the last rites for him, but Fr Ezeokana himself was traumatized. With little energy left the two escaped leaving Fr Emmanuel Dim in the car. According to Fr Chukwuneke, he soon heard one of the priests shouting, “I am a priest of God” and when he looked back drenched in blood, he saw Fr Emmanuel Dim being marched off with his hands in the air.

The hoodlums dragged Fr.Dim, the Rector of Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha, away to an unknown destination suspected to be somewhere around Adada river close to Akpugo in Uzo-Uwani Local government Area of Enugu state.  Our reporters gathered that Fr. Emmanuel Dim was later seen along Akpugo junction after Adada River by one Nnanna ugwu who was with his brother going somewhere on their motorcycle.  According to Nnanna, Fr, Dim was sitting along the road when with my brother we saw him. “At first we thought he was a one of those Pentecostal pastors that usually go to rivers for one type of baptism or the other but on looking closely we observed he was a catholic priest. Nnanna continued, “We decided to take him to Aku in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State than going to Mkpologu in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Shepherd news men later found out that the said Nnanna and brother who offered to help the kidnapped priest were the sons of the catechist of St Benard’s Catholic Church Mgboko Aku. In a brief chat with the parish priest of St Benard’s parish Mgboko Aku, Fr Matthew Okwor, “he said the son of of my catechist brought Fr Emmanuel Dim to my parish and I received him full of praises ad thanks to God”. According to the parish priest, Fr Dim told me he was treated like an animal in the hands of some of his abductors though some of them were friendly to him. Fr Okwor also mentioned that Fr Dim lamented having been fed on roasted yam and bread. According to him, Fr Dim reported he slept on his soutane for three days. When it rained, some of them pitied him and covered him with some materials. It was from this point that the Nsukka Diocesan Secretariat was contacted and informed of his release. 

Upon his release from the den of his abductors, Fr Emmanuel Dim was taken to the resident of Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah who took very good care of him until his departure to his home. Bishop Godfrey Onah thanked God for the release of Fr. Dim.

Reacting to the ugly incident, the catholic bishop of Awka diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, strongly condemned the attack on the priests describing it as unfortunate and saddening. The catholic prelate voiced out on the president and the governor of the concerned state to urgently look into the matter and bring the perpetrators to face the law as soon as possible.

Herdsmen attack has been on the increase for quite a long time in South East especially in Enugu state. The state has recorded more attacks compared to any other state in the country in recent time. We are no longer at ease with the things around our neck in our father lands. We don’t know where else to run to. The people are lamenting. Both the federal and state government should come up with a clear cut plans to curtail the excesses of Fulani herdsmen. Women are being raped and intimidated. Innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered and kidnapped on daily basis by this same people