By our reporter| The Imo state Catholic priest, Rev. Prof Izu Marcel Onyeocha, abducted on Saturday along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, has regained his freedom.
The release of the prest announced by Owerri Provincial Secretary of Claretian Missionaries, Rev Fr Matthew Iwuagwu, has also been confirmed by Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu.
Onyeocha, who is a professor of Philosophy at the Imo State University, Owerri, is a priest in the congregation of Claretian Missionaries.
He was kidnapped on Saturday evening along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Express Road at Ihube community in Okigwe council area of the state, when he was returning from Enugu to Owerri, by a group of persons suspected to be herdsmen.
According to Father Iwuagwu, Rev Onyeocha was dropped off at the Ihube Community in Okigwe council area of the state in the early hours of Monday.
The kidnappers, he said, might have apparently become frustrated when no one was willing to pay ransom for the release of the priest and quickly let him go.
Onyeocha was said to have trekked to St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Okigwe, from where he returned to his base.
Iwuagwu’s statement read, “With grateful hearts, we wish to thank the Almighty God for the release of Fr Izu Marcel Onyeocha from the den of the kidnappers.
“The Provincial Superior has spoken with him. He is in stable condition.
“We wish to thank the Priests at St Mary Cathedral Okigwe for their care and hospitality.
“We also thank the security operatives for their assistance.
“We appreciate everyone who stormed heaven with prayers. God is ever faithful and he answered us.”
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