Gunmen kidnap Anambra Catholic priest, Rev Fr Basil Gbuzuo, police launch manhunt for abductors


A popular Catholic priest in the Onitsha Diocese of Anambra State, Reverend Father Basil Gbuzuo, has been kidnapped by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

The news of the priest’s abduction was contained in a release by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha dated May 16, 2024.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, around 8 am along the Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass.

The statement also added that His Grace, Most Rev Valerian Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, had called on all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill to pray for the quick and safe release of the priest.

The Archdiocese said it was also intensifying efforts to secure Fr Gbuzuo’s freedom, while committing the priest to “powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his kidnappers.”

The statement signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Fr Prudentius E. Aroh, read in part, “With sadness, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo.

“The sad incident occurred yesterday morning, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, along Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass, about 8am.

“He is a priest in residence at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Ogidi. Until now, the abductors have not established any contact with anyone.

“His Grace, Most Rev Valerian M. Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of the priest as we intensify our efforts to ensure his freedom.

“We commend our brother, Fr Basil, to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his kidnappers.”

Reacting to the development in a statement Thursday evening, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had launched a manhunt for the abductors of the priest.

The PPRO’s statement read, “Anambra Police Command has launched a manhunt for the abductors and possible rescue of Fr Basil Chukwuemeka, which sad incident occurred at Nkpor Junction, Onitsha.

“The Command is already working with some eyewitnesses to the incident in the ongoing operation

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, while addressing the Catholic priests, allayed their fears and assured them that the Command would do everything to rescue the priest unhurt and arrest the abductors.”

Anambra Catholic priest kidnapped

17th May 2024

•Lawyers boycott courts over abducted colleague

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

A popular Catholic Priest of Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzue, has been kidnapped even as lawyers in Anambra State boycotted courts, yesterday, over the abduction of their colleague.

Fr. Gbuzue, popularly known as Man pass Man, a resident priest at Holy Trinity Parish, Ogidi, is the Spiritual Director of Mountain of Solution Catholic Adoration Ministry (MOSCAM), a prayer ministry attended by a multitude of worshippers every week in Anambra State.

Chancellor of Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev. Fr, Prudentius Aroh, who confirmed the kidnap incident in a letter dated May 16, 2024, and addressed to all priests, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese, disclosed that Fr. Gbuzue was kidnapped, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, along the Eke Nkpor-Obosi Bypass, at about 8am. He said the abductors were yet to establish contact with anybody.

“His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of the priest, as we intensify our efforts to ensure his freedom,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, activities at the various courts in Anambra State were paralysed, yesterday, following a boycott of courts by lawyers, to press for the release of the Secretary, Idemili Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chukwubuikem .J. S. Asoro, who was kidnapped at Abagana, last Saturday.

A circular posted to all lawyers and different branches of the NBA, Anambra State, through their branch chairmen, signed by the Chairman, Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries, NBA branches, Anambra State, I. C. Nsofor, sighted by Daily Sun, ordered all lawyers to ensure strict compliance to the directive to boycott courts, yesterday.

When Daily Sun visited the Onitsha Magistrates’ and High Courts, yesterday, many litigants and others who had their cases slated for the day were disappointed as judges and magistrates presiding various courts in the premises didn’t show up for the business of the day. Many lawyers, who had several matters slated for the day, filed into the court to pick new dates even as others who expected judgements to be delivered on their cases left for home disappointed.

However, the police authorities in Anambra State said they have launched a manhunt for the abductors and possible rescue of Fr. Gbuzue. The Command’s Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command was already working with some witnesses to the incident in the ongoing operation.

He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, addressed the Catholic priests during their meeting in Onitsha, allayed their fears and assured them that the command would do everything to rescue the priest unhurt, and arrest the abductors.

Creamypie:
East eh. No wonder many dey rush to delta

naptu2:


https://dailypost.ng/2024/05/16/gunmen-kidnap-anambra-catholic-priest-rev-fr-basil-gbuzuo-police-launch-manhunt-for-abductors/

Curious345:
Are you sure this is not another form of jihad I mean Islamic jihad..

scholes23:
Wetin these men wan use priest do again
I don't think it's out of place for archbishops in the eastern part of Nigeria to approve or allow priests to go with armed security personnel whenever they go on apostolic assignments cos the rate of kidnap is highly alarming

PussyOdour:




Soludo that was running his mouth In last general election is turning once peaceful Anambra to kidnappers den. He doesn't have the balls to fight kidnapers, but he has the balls to talk nonsense about Peter Obi just to please a cocaine sniffing bastard iragbiji dog

Impliment:


What do they want from him? He is an old man for God's sake. The kidnapers has mate their Waterloo. I pray for his quick release.