Reverend Father kidnapped in Delta, as abductors demand N10m ransom

Barely three days after Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, of  Delta State declared that kidnapping had reduced in the state, a parish priest of St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Joseph Oghenekevwe Ojakorotu, has been abducted.

The cleric was abducted on Friday, while driving on Eku-Sapele road, Sunday Tribune gathered.

It was also learnt that the kidnappers demanded N10 million ransom after establishing contact with members of his parish.

The parishioners said the hoodlums were insisting the money must be paid before the release of the cleric.

Reverend Father Ojakorotu is the second Catholic priest to be abducted in Delta within the last four months, as another Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Irikefe, a lecturer at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan,      was kidnapped around Warri/Effurun metropolis in September last year.

Spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said that the command was already on the trail of the kidnappers.

He added that the primary concern of his men was to secure the cleric’s release before going after perpetrators for arrest and prosecution.

“Our men are on the case already and what I can assure you of is that we shall not let these criminals succeed so that  others in their line won’t feel encouraged to come out to commit more crimes in Delta state.

‘‘Our primary concern is to get the Reverend Father out unhurt first, then we shall ensure to arrest the criminals and get them prosecuted.

‘‘They shall not go unpunished in this case,” Aniamaka said.