Abducted Edo Catholic priest killed by kidnappers

The Catholic arc diocese of Auchi has announced the death of Rev. Fr. Odia Christopher, a Rev. Father at St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo Uzairue in Etsako west local government of Edo state, who was kidnapped on Sunday morning.

This was contained in a statement signed by Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa Director of Social Communications Catholic Diocese of Auchi and made available to journalists in Benin.

The statement read in part “With heavy hearts but with total submission to the will of God, we announce the death of our priest Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, who was killed by his abductors after being kidnapped this morning 26th June 2022 at about 6.30am in his rectory while coming out to go for Sunday Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church Ikabigbo, Uzairue, Edo State”

Until his death, Fr Odia was the Administrator of St Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo and also the Principal of St. Philip Catholic Secondary School Jattu.

This incident is coming barely two weeks after a Catholic church in Owo Ondo state was attacked by gunmen even as the police is yet to make any statement.

A Catholic priest was also killed by suspected terrorists in Chikun Local government area of Kaduna state.

Reverend Father Vitus Borogo, was reportedly murdered on Saturday while working on his farm in Kujama, along the Kaduna-Kachia road.

The late Priest was the Chaplain of the Catholic Community of the Kaduna State Polytechnic, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Kaduna State Chapter.https://www.tvcnews.tv/2022/06/zamfara-govt-directs-citizens-to-obtain-firearms-for-self-defense-against-bandits/

Reverend Father Borogo is the second Catholic Clergy to have died at the hands of bandits in the last two months before this latest incident.