TWO CATHOLIC CLERGYMEN ABDUCTED BY GUNMEN

Two Catholic Priests were abducted yesterday 18 December by unknown gunmen at Obior in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. The unsuspecting clergymen were returning from a ceremony in honor of the Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, Most Rev. (Dr.) Michael Elue, when they were intercepted by the abductors on their way.

One of the priest is Reverend Father Franklyn Odiaka, the Parish Priest of Catholic Church of Assumption (Zappa Parish), Asaba while the identity of the second kidnapped priest is yet to be known.
The State Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu when contacted confirmed the kidnap of the Catholic Priests.

Kalu said information about the situation was still sketchy, expressing confidence that the hoodlums would be arrested and the priests would be freed unhurt.

The kidnap happened barely two weeks after hoodlums were said to have broke into the church and remove undisclosed amount of money from the parish treasury.

The full details about the kidnap were still sketchy; anxious members of the parish of Assumption Catholic Church were yesterday seen around the church in groups discussing the development in low tunes and none of them were ready to disclose any information as they were said to be preparing for a marathon spiritual exercise of prayer against the abductors of the fiery charismatic priest, Fr. Odiaka.