After three days in captivity, the Parish Catholic priest of Holy Ghost Catholic Parish, Obosima, Owerri West Local Council of Imo State, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, who was abducted by gunmen has been released.
A source from the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Church, yesterday, confirmed the development in a post.
It said: “To the glory of God, Rev. Fr. Matthias Opara of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, who was kidnapped, last Friday, by hoodlums, has been released unharmed, by his abductors.
Details surrounding his release are sketchy, but the important thing is that he has been released.”
Opara was kidnapped at the weekend, along Ejemekwuru – Izombe Road, Oguta Local Council of the state, while returning from a funeral.
According to a statement signed by the Archdiocesan Chancellor / Secretary, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbara, the cleric was abducted at about 2:00p.m. Very Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara was ordained on July 14, 1990.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, was yet to confirm his release at press time. Besides Opara, two priests had, in the last two weeks, been abducted by hoodlums in the state.
They are the priests in charge of Christ the King Catholic church, Ezinachi/Ugwuago in Okigwe Local Council of the state, Fr. Jude Maduka, as he was preparing for mass; and the Catholic priest in charge of St. Paul’s parish, Osu in Isiala Mbano Local Council, Fr. Micheal Asomugha. The duo had also regained freedom.