At least 45 people including a Catholic Parish priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Sarkin Pawa, the Headquarters of Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, Very Rev Father Leo Raphael Ozigi were kidnapped in fresh attacks in the state.
The priest was abducted on his way to Gwada from Sarkin Pawa when he ran into bandits operating on the Sarkin Pawa-Gwada road on Sunday evening. The cleric was taken away alongside dozens of other villagers.
The Secretary, Niger State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Raphael Opawoye, has confirmed the cleric’s abduction.
Pastor Opawoye said, “Very Rev Dr Leo Raphael Ozigi was kidnapped on Sunday on his way back to Gwada from Sarkin Pawa after the Sunday Service.”
The Secretary, Munya Local Government, James Jagaba, said, “the entire Munya Local Government is in disarray. The situation in the area is pathetic. There’s kidnap in all parts of the local government.”
The 44 other villagers abducted were among those who returned to their communities from IDP camps on Saturday.
