Barely a week after two Catholic priests kidnapped in Ondo state regained freedom from their abductors, some gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have abducted another Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Samuel Agwameseh, on the Onicha-Olona Road in the Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Fr. Agwameseh, who is the parish priest of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Issele-Mkpitime, was said to have been abducted on Saturday while returning from Onicha-Olona, where he had gone to produce the Sunday service bulletin for his parish when the kidnappers ambushed his car.

The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku, Delta State, Rev. Fr. Charles Uganwa, who confirmed the abduction, stated that the hoodlums had established contact with some parishioners and demanded N20 million ransom to free the priest.

He stated,

“The priest was returning to his base in Issele-Mkpitime when he was attacked by Fulani herdsmen and whisked away to an unknown location.

“He was returning from Onicha-Olona, where he had gone to produce last Sunday’s  bulletin for his parish, when the kidnappers ambushed his car.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who confirmed the abduction of the priest on Monday, said the command was intensifying efforts to release him.

“Yes, it is true that the Catholic priest was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday, but we are making efforts to ensure his freedom,” she said.