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Nigeria: Bishop appeals for release of kidnapped priest and nuns


Bishop Felix Ajakaye

Bishop Felix Ajakaye

Bishop Felix Ajakaye, of Ekiti Catholic Diocese in western Nigeria has appealed for the release of a priest, two nuns and their driver who have been kidnapped in two separate incidents. The Bishop said in a statement that Father John Adeyi, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Otukpo, has been missing since Sunday, April 24.

He said Fr Felix, who is Parish Priest of St Bernard Catholic Church, Okpoka, was kidnapped on a highway. "He was returning from an outstation of the parish, where he had gone to celebrate the Holy Eucharist . He is the first Catholic priest from Otukpa,''

Bishop Ajakaye said that since the abduction of Fr Adeyi, there had been no information concerning his whereabouts.

The Bishop continued: "Last week, Thursday, May 12, two Sisters of St Louis, Reverend Sisters Perpetua Apo and Bukola Familade, and their driver, Mr Zwugwa Zibai, were also abducted. The three of them were travelling from Kaduna to Ijebu-Itele in Ogun State for a programme when their vehicle broke down at Kajola on Ore-Lagos road.

"They then called some Reverend Sisters in the neighbouring town for help. By the time the Sisters and others got to the scene, they found the vehicle but the three were nowhere to be found. It was later established that they had been abducted."

Bishop Ajakaye said that these were the latest in a series of kidnappings that have taken place across Nigeria in recent months.

He appealed for the authorities to put more effort and resources into finding the captives and urged "all well-meaning Nigerians to appeal to the abductors of all persons in captivity to release them."

Source: WAP/ICN

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