A popular Catholic priest, Rev Fr Basil Gbuzuo, has been kidnapped.
Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, signed by the Chancellor of the Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev Fr Prudentus Aroh and made available to newsmen, the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, around 8 am along the Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass.
The statement added that His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian M. Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, has called on all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of the priest. The Archdiocese is also intensifying efforts to secure Fr. Gbuzuo’s freedom.
It commended Fr. Gbuzuo to the “powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his kidnappers.”
As of now, the abductors have not established any contact with the Archdiocese or the priest’s family. The police and other security agencies have been notified and are working to investigate the incident and ensure the safe return of Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo.
The Catholic community in Anambra and beyond is deeply saddened by this news and is rallying in prayer and support for the safe release of their beloved priest. The Archdiocese has urged all to remain calm and vigilant as the search for Fr. Gbuzuo continues.
