Catholic Priest Kidnapped In Owerri, Sixth In 2025
The Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Reverend Father John Ubaechu, has been kidnapped.
Ubaechu was kidnapped on Sunday evening by unknown persons along Ejemekwuru Road in the local government.
The Chancellor and Archdiocesan Secretary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbara, confirmed the sad development in a newsletter addressed to Catholic faithful and made available to newsmen on Monday.
The letter read, “I am directed to inform you that one of our priests, Rev Fr John Ubaechu, was kidnapped on the evening of Sunday, 23rd March, 2025.
“Rev Fr John Ubaechu is the Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe. The sad incident occurred along Ejemekwuru Road in Oguta Local Government Area. He was kidnapped on his way to the Priests’ Annual Retreat.”
The church urged all faithful and men of goodwill to join them in prayers for the quick and safe release of Ubeachu.
“We invite all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of our Priest.
“We commend our brother, Rev Fr John Ubaechu to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors,” it said.
Recall that a priest of Owerri Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Mathias Opara, was kidnapped on the same road in 2023, and released after days of severe torture by the kidnappers.
THE WHISTLER also reported the kidnap of Fr. Philip Ekeli and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, on March 5, 2025, in Edo State. Ekeli gained freedom 10 days later while Andrew was killed by his abductors.
Similarly, on January 7, 2025, two Catholic Nuns, Rev Sister Vincentia Nwankwo and Sister Grace, were kidnapped in Onitsha Anambra State.
Rev. Maurice Livinus, the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Isokpo, was kidnapped along with two others on February 12, 2025, while returning from a hospital visitation along the Elele-Isiokpo road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
On March 5, 2025, a Catholic Priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, identified as Rev Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, was killed by kidnappers. He was reported to have been kidnapped from his residence on March 4, 2025.
Catholic Priest Kidnapped In Owerri, Sixth In 2025 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
