Gunmen have kidnapped an Anambra State-based priest of the Catholic Church, Reverend Father Christian Ike.

Ike was said to have been taken away by the assailants on Sunday, along Amagu junction, Ndiokpaleke in Ajali community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The reason for the incident has yet to be ascertained, but eyewitnesses in the area said the priest was returning alongside two other persons from an early morning Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church, when the vehicle he was moving in, was double-crossed by the assailants.

The source said, “The priest and two other persons were returning from St. Micheal Catholic Church, where they attended morning service.

“On getting to Amagu Junction, their vehicle was double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles, while the other two other persons escaped the scene, the criminals took away the priest and some personal belongings of the occupants in the vehicle.”

The latest abduction will be the second incident in two months as it would be recalled that another priest, Reverend Father Basil Gbuzuo, was kidnapped near Onitsha, on May 15, by unknown gunmen.

Gbuzuo was later released some weeks later after some undisclosed amount of ransom was paid to his captors.

Confirming the incident, the Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command has heard about the incident and has deployed its intelligence and operational assets for his possible rescue unhurt.

Ikenga said, “Anambra State Police Command received the information of the abduction of Rev Father Christian Ike and has deployed its intelligence and operational assets of the Command for possible rescue unhurt.

“Eyewitness account revealed by 10:30 am on 16/6/2024, the priest and two others were returning from St. Micheal Catholic Church Ndiokpaleke where they attended morning service, along Amagu Junction, they were double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles, while the other two escaped the scene, the criminals took away the priest and some personal belongings of the occupants in the vehicle.

“To this end, the Command has activated its intelligence and operational assets for possible arrest of the assailants and rescue unhurt of the priest.”

He added that further development shall be communicated as it unfolds.

At least six persons were reportedly killed and scores injured following attack on a farming community by suspected herdsmen.

The attack that occurred on Sunday targeted Mararaban Azagwa and Alele villages all of Maihula in the Bali Local Government Area of the state..

A resident of the area, Isah Abdul, told our correspondent on Monday that trouble started when a man who was drunk and high on drugs he took at Maihula market was found dead on his way home.

“It is an unfortunate development. The relatives of the deceased, who later recovered his corpse, accused the Tiv villagers where the man died of being responsible for the death of their brother.

“There was nothing actually to point to the fact that the man was killed. He might have probably died from complications arising from the alcohol and the drugs he took.

“But his relatives, who suspected that he was killed by the Tiv villagers, mobilised and started attacking and killing people,” Abdul said.

The chairman, Taraba State Tiv Traditional Council, Zaki David Gbaa, who briefed journalists in Bali on the development, said six people were killed and four others are in critical conditions in the hospital.

Gbaa identified those killed to include; Aondohemba Salemkaan, Tersuugh Dondo, Terkuma Mbatim, Kumaga Ujam Asaaga Nev and Tersoo Memga.

The Tiv leader, who condemned the attack, however, commended the security agencies for their quick intervention to calm the situation.

He expressed confidence that the attackers would be arrested by security agencies and prosecuted, especially that all of them live in the community and could easily be identified.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gambo Kwache, who confirmed the attack in a telephone interview, however said only two corpses were recovered by the police

Gambo noted that no arrest has been made so far, but security operatives were combing the area in search of the attackers.

By Adeyanju Esther

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle to 46 years imprisonment for impersonating Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives.

The duo executed a fake court order and were re-arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC on five amended charges, including impersonation, attempting to obtain property, possessing documents containing false pretences, and unlawfully wearing EFCC uniforms.

One charge stated that on May 12, 2021, Chijioke and Adekunle attempted to defraud Oriyomi Johnson by falsely claiming a Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos had ordered the seizure of property at New Horizon Estate, Lekki. Another charge stated they wore jackets with the EFCC mark, implying they were authorised EFCC officials.

Both pleaded guilty to the charges. The prosecution, represented by Abdulhamid Lamido Tukur, reviewed the case’s facts, proving the defendants’ guilt and urging the court to convict them.

Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced each defendant to seven years for counts one to three, one year for count four, and eight months for count five, with the sentences running concurrently.

They were arrested in May 2021 during an illegal operation at New Horizon Estate. Items recovered included fake EFCC ID cards, jackets, and a falsified court order.

Initially arraigned on October 12, 2021, Chijioke and Adekunle had pleaded not guilty before changing their plea.