The kidnapped Enugu Catholic priest, Reverend Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, has been set free. The kidnappers let the priest go on Thursday night, after he had been there for days.
Father Okide was kidnapped alongside six other persons at about 5 p.m. along Eke-Egede-Affa-AkpakwumeNze Road in the Udi Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
The cleric is the parish priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Amofia-AguAffa and was said to be on his way to the parish when he was abducted by gunmen.
The Chancellor/Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, ChidiAgubuchie, in a statement, Friday morning confirmed that the priest was released around 8:00 on Thursday night.
“We are glad to inform you that our brother and priest, Fr. Marcellinus Obioma Okide, has been released from the den of the kidnappers.
“He was set free at about 8.00 pm on Thursday 21 September 2023.
“The Catholic Diocese of Enugu is grateful to the Almighty God for His protection over Fr. Okide, and thanks you for your prayers and Masses throughout this difficult period.
“May Our Lady, Help of Christians, intercede for us and our country, Nigeria,” the statement partly read. Mr Agubuchie said the leadership of the diocese was grateful to God for his protection over the released cleric and to all Catholic faithful for their prayers throughout the “difficult period.”