An X user, @duso4me, on 01 November 2024, shared a video of suspects who kidnapped and killed a Catholic Reverend Father who was trying to arrange his father’s burial.
According to the post, the X user said a Catholic Reverend Father, who was trying to arrange his father’s burial, was kidnapped in Imo state. Despite pleading that he was a priest and was only running around to bury his father, they still went ahead and killed him.
“The worst part is that the person who led the crime is a serving police officer.
@duso4me who posted the 3-minute video, didn’t state when this incident happened. Many people who commented on the post assumed that it occurred recently.
@Katoriyon who commented on the post, said the current Nigerian system emboldens killers in uniform.
Another commenter, @MJO_Maddox, lamented that South East has never been safe and the federal government doesn’t care.
This claim by @duso4me garnered over 190k views, more than 1k reposts, and 1.5k likes, according to X analytics.
Verification
FACTWATCH did a Keyword search, “Policeman kidnapped and killed Catholic Priest in Imo, the results from the Google search showed that the incident happened in 2017.
According to credible news reports, the Imo State Police Command paraded a policeman, Corporal Jude Madu, and five others for the abduction and murder of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Onunkwo.
The cleric was abducted on September 1, 2017, by gunmen who operated in a Toyota Avalon car and whisked him to an unknown destination.
The Catholic priest was found dead the next day.
Parading the gang members alongside other suspects, then state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, said: “I am delighted that the police command under my watch has made major breakthroughs in the criminal investigation leading to the arrest of dare-devil suspected criminals, recovery of exhibits and dismantling of the various criminal gangs/cells.
Check this story here and here.
Also, the video report on YouTube by Channels TV indicated that this incident happened in 7 years ago.
Verdict
This post is MISLEADING as the X user, @duso4me, shared a 2017 incident.
