Imo Catholic Clerics Decry Abduction Of Over 50 Priests, Call For Urgent Intervention

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Catholic family in Imo State, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, protested against the incessant and unresolved cases of  abduction of Priests in the State.

The Protesting Clerics alleged that between 2015 and 2025, a total of over 50  priests have been kidnapped in Imo State with two of the victims unfortunately killed by their abductors.

Spokesperson for the aggrieved Catholic Clerics, Rev Father Anthony Njoku, in an interactive session with the media at the Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, however, regretted that in the face  of the sad situation, they are not getting adequate protection

from Security Agencies.

The Priests noted that they are being forced to speak out and let the world be  aware of their plights before it is too late.

“The situation is dire. It is important to speak out before it is too late about the alarming descent of Imo State into a state of insecurity and fear .

“Kidnappings for ransom, organ harvesting, and invasions of people’s lands and farms are now common place across Imo State and Igbo land.

“These horrors are no longer distant headlines, they are personal. Our Priests and faithful parishioners have suffered terribly ,and the pain continues to spread.

“While we have an innumerable number of people who have fallen victims ,in the past ten years ,between 2015 and 2025,there are more than fifty clergy and religious victims of this horrendous situation from Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri Dioceses, with Okigwe recording the highest priest victims ,and two deaths from Owerri and respectively ,all in Imo state alone.

“The perpetrators often identified as Fulani herdsmen,strike with increasing boldness ,and cruelty .This is a nightmare no one should endure ,let alone our people.

“Whether due to lack of equipment ,insufficient capacity ,or absence of political will, security operatives have failed to stem the tide of this evil.

“Their apparent paralysis in the face of widespread violence is deeply troubling”, the Rev Father stated.

The Catholic Clerics, therefore, appealed to security agencies and all relevant authorities to take urgent steps to arrest the ugly development before it gets out of hand.

At the media interactive session were the duo of Archbishop of the Ecclesiastic diocese dioceses Luscious Ugorji ,and his immediate predecessor Dr Anthony Obinna.