Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo kidnapped in Anambra

Hardly a month has passed since unknown gunmen kidnapped Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo, a Catholic priest, and similarly kidnapped Rev. Fr. Christian Ike, a Catholic priest, who was thought to be being held for ransom.

On May 15, this year, Rev. Fr. Gbuzuo was kidnapped in Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub in Anambra, and Rev. Fr. Ike was seized last Sunday, June 16, at Amagu Junction, Ndiokpalaeke near Ajalli in the state’s Orumba North Local Government Area.

While Fr. Gbuzuo was freed a few weeks later following the payment of an undisclosed ransom to the kidnappers, Fr. Ike’s captors have not yet gotten in touch with any of his family members or fellow parishioners.

Although the reason for his abduction has not yet been ascertained, but eyewitnesses in the area, said the priest was returning from St. Michael’s Catholic Church where he and two others attended an early morning Mass when the vehicle he was moving in, was double-crossed by the kidnappers.

According to the source, “On getting to Amagu Junction, their vehicle was double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles, but the two others who were inside the same vehicle with Fr. Ike barely managed to escape the scene, while the criminals took away the priest and some personal belongings of the escaped occupants in the vehicle.”

Confirming the incident, the Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, told newsmen on phone that the command has heard about the incident and has deployed its intelligence and operational assets for his possible rescue unhurt.

Ikenga said, “Anambra State Police Command received the information of the abduction of Rev Father Christian Ike and has deployed its intelligence and operational assets of the Command for possible rescue unhurt.

“To this end, the Command has activated its intelligence and operational assets for possible arrest of the assailants and rescue unhurt of the priest and further development shall be communicated as it unfolds”.