Police Lunch Manhunt for Abductors of Popular Anambra Catholic Priest, Fr. Gbuzuo

By Praise Chinecherem

Gunmen on Thursday abducted a popular Catholic Priest in the Onitsha Diocese of Anambra State, Rev Father Basil Gbuzuo.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha announced the priest’s abduction in a statement dated May 16, 2024

The statement signed by the Chancellor of the diocese, Rev. Fr. Prudentius E. Aroh revealed that the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, around 8 am at the Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass.

According to the statement, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, had called on all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill to pray for the quick and safe release of the priest.

The statement partly reads, “With sadness, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzuo.

“The sad incident occurred yesterday morning, Wednesday, 15 th May, 2024 along Eke Nkpor-Obosi bypass about 8am.

“He is a priest in residence at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Ogidi. Until now, the abductors have not established any contact with anybody.

“His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian M. Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of the priest as we intensify our efforts to ensure his freedom.

“We commend our brother, Fr. Basil, to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his kidnappers.”

Confirming the incident in a statement on Thursday, Police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had launched a manhunt for the abductors of the priest.

He said,”Anambra Police Command has launched a manhunt for the abductors and possible rescue Fr. Basil Chukwuemeka which sad incident occurred at Nkpor Junction, Onitsha.

“The Command is already working with some eyewitnesses to the incident in the ongoing operation

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam while addressing the Catholic priests allayed their fears and assured them that the Command would do everything to rescue the priest unhurt , and arrest the abductors.”