Imo People express worry over  rampaging Unknown Gunmen in the state 

From Victor Duruamaku Owerri

Imo state people  are now in a state of worry and fear  over  the sudden return of unknown Gunmen who had in recent times been rampaging in parts of the state

These unknown Gunmen had in the last few months killed some policemen on lawful duties precisely along Okpala road in Ngokpala local government area of the state

Further, the Gunmen were reported to have killed some innocent people in the same area and also abducted some members of the clergy

Recently, however, precisely on Friday evening  Gunmen Kidnapped a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Mathias Opara.

According to the information reaching out to newsmen, the priest was kidnapped along Ejemekwuru- Ogbaku Road Oguta and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas of the  State.

It was  gathered that the priest  was double-crossed while driving back to Owerri, the state capital after the burial ceremony of the father of one of his colleagues at Izombo community in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state

According to the information, ” Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara was kidnapped along Ejemekwuru/Ogbaku Road in the company of others he was in the same vehicle with.

“The incident happened right before us. We were also coming back to Owerri from the funeral  ceremony of the father of another Catholic priest at Izombo in the Oguta Local Government Area of  the State.”

However, when contacted, the Director of Public Communications of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Rev Fr Raymond Ogu confirmed the incident expressing  worry and fear over the incident

He  recalled that  last week the Catholic priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic Church at Ezinachi/Ugwuago in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state, Jude Maduka, was  also kidnapped by the Gunmen likewise the Catholic priest in charge of St Paul’s parish in Osu in Isiala Mbano LGA, Rev Fr. Micheal Asomugha,  who was  also  kidnapped

Reacting to this ugly development, some catholic faithful expressed deep fear and worry over the recent attacks on the Christian churches particularly, the Catholic Church through the abduction of their priests

A woman leader in one of the churches noted the danger of the current situation in the state and called on the state government and security agencies in the state to rise up to the challenges by ensuring the security of the life and property of the residents of the state

The woman leader, lady Carolina Nzimakor also recalled that recently, a serving judge in the Ejemekwuru area of Oguta local government area was killed while in a court session

Also worrisome the woman leader noted was the attack on traditional rulers in the state pointing out that recently, two traditional rulers were attacked and killed  and set ablaze by unknown Gunmen while on their way home