The Catholic Church in Akwa Ibom state, south-south Nigeria, has urged the public to offer prayers for their priest who was recently kidnapped by armed men.
The abducted priest, Alphonsus Uboh, was abducted around 7 pm on May 8 from his residence, within the parish he served, in Ikot Akpan Abasi, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
His kidnappers demand a ransom of 100 million naira before his release.
“We call on all men and women of good will to pray for their release from the hands of their kidnappers,” Rev. Father and diocesan chancellor Charles Ekeng said in a statement May 9 on behalf of the Catholic Diocese. of Uyo.
“While we ask for intense prayer for his speedy and safe release, we also want to call on everyone not to take the law into their hands.
“We are using all legitimate means to ensure their safe release,” the statement said.
The Catholic Church said Uboh was abducted shortly after he returned to his residence from visiting a parishioner who was ill.
The priest has spent three nights in captivity so far.
His kidnapping came a few days after a popular Pentecostal preacher was kidnapped and later released, apparently after the payment of a ransom.
Meanwhile, a Catholic priest kidnapped eight weeks ago in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, has supposedly died in captivity.
The priest, Joseph Bako, died between April 18 and 20, according to Catholic authorities in Kaduna.
He was 48 years old.
Kidnapping for ransom is now one of the dominant crimes in various cities in Nigeria.
Politicians, businessmen, and anyone of good financial worth, including school children, are easy targets.