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John Otache, parish priest of St. Margaret Catholic Church, Ajegbe-Awume area of Ohimini LGA of Benue state, who was abducted on October 13, has regained his freedom.
Aondogu Orchia, spokesperson for the Benue state police command, in a statement on Monday, said Otache was rescued by security personnel alongside five other kidnap victims on Sunday.
According to NAN, the PPRO said the abductees are currently at the Otukpo Teaching Hospital for medical checks.
The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, in a statement signed by Joseph Itodo, chancellor of the diocese, said the priest was returning home from Otukpo when he encountered the abductors along the Otobi Amejo-Ajegbe road in the council.
Itodo expressed sadness over the incident, saying Michael Apochi, Bishop of Otukpo diocese, was deeply pained by the development.
Otache’s abduction came three months after Kelvin Ochai, a seminarian, was abducted from the bishop’s residence in Otukpo.
In response to “repeated attacks”, the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, a town in Benue, on Tuesday ordered the temporary closure of its institutions in Ihugh, a community in the Vandeikya LGA of the state.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by William Avenya, bishop of the diocese, and Marcellinus Wende, its chancellor.
Ihugh is the hometown of Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, who reportedly served as a Catholic priest under the diocese before his entry into politics.
The affected institutions are St Winifred Girls Secondary School, St Thomas Hospital, St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, and St Winifred Parish, all in Ihugh.
The directive also ordered the withdrawal of pastoral agents from the community.
