Gunmen attack Benue bishop’s residence, abduct seminarian

Suspected bandits have abducted a Catholic seminarian, Mr Kelvin Ochai, after attacking the residence of a Catholic bishop in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday when the gunmen stormed the Bishop’s residence in the Asa III area of Otukpo, DailyPost reports.

Confirming the attack in a statement issued on Friday, the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo, said the seminarian was taken away by the assailants during the invasion.

Itodo noted that the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Apochi, expressed deep sadness over the incident and appealed to members of the church and the general public to pray for the victim’s safe return.

The statement read, “Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, who is deeply saddened by this unfortunate development, has called on all Christ’s Faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and all people of goodwill to earnestly pray for the seminarian’s quick and safe release.

“We commit our brother and all those in the kidnappers’ den throughout the country to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release from the hands of their abductors.”

The diocese also offered prayers for the release of other Nigerians currently being held captive by bandits and other criminal groups.

The latest abduction comes less than a week after fresh violence rocked parts of Benue State, where suspected armed herders reportedly killed at least three people and injured two others in separate attacks on Elulu and Agadagba communities in Ohimini Local Government Area.

The attacks, which occurred between July 24 and Saturday night, were said to have been carried out in succession, with the assailants invading Elulu before launching another attack on Agadagba the following night, according to local residents.