The kidnapping of Rev. Fr. John Otache, the parish priest of St. Margaret’s Parish in Ajegbe-Awume, in the state’s Ohimini Local Government Area, has been confirmed by the Benue State Police Command.
DSP Aondogu Orchia, the Police Public Relations Officer, verified the Makurdi incident on Friday.
According to Orchia, the leadership has started a thorough inquiry into the situation and is still working to save the priest.
The priest was kidnaped on October 13, according to a statement from the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, which was signed by Rev. Fr. Joseph Itodo, the Diocesan Chancellor.
Itodo claims that Otache met the kidnappers on the Otobi Amejo-Ajegbe Road in the Ohimini Local Government Area on his way home from Otukpo.
He bemoaned the occurrence and said that Most Rev. Michael Apochi, the Bishop of Otukpo, was terribly hurt by it.
He urged priests, religious leaders, laypeople, and other kindhearted people to offer prayers for the priest’s quick and safe release.