IZUNNA OKAFOR
Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
The student, who was abducted over the weekend, was said to be returning home from school before the gunmen ambushed and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
It was also gathered that the victim is a clergyman working with the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi.
Announcing the victim’s abduction in a press statement obtained by this reporter, the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu, identified the abducted priest as Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Mbamara.
He further called for insistent prayers to ensure the safety and immediate release of the abducted clergy.
“Our priest, Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Mbamara, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, was kidnapped on Friday evening, on his way from Awka to Nnewi.
“Let’s storm heaven with humble and insistent prayers for his quick release in sound health of mind and body. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Help of Christians, pray with and for us,” he said.
Efforts to receive the reaction of the Police Public Relations in Anambra State, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, proved abortive, as his phone number was not connecting, while he was also yet to respond to messages of enquiries sent to him concerning the incident.
It would be recalled that another UNIZIK student, Sylvester Mercy Chinomso (Mesi Sylvia) of the Parasitology and Entomology Department, was sometime abducted in 2019 by Unknown Gunmen, who kidnapped her alongside her sister.