In a welcome development, Reverend Father Maurice Livinus, a Catholic Priest of the Port Harcourt Diocese, and two other kidnapped victims have been released by their captors.
The release came after intense pressure from a combined team of security operatives, comprising policemen, soldiers from the Joint Task Force (JTF) Isiokpo, and local vigilantes.
According to a statement by the Rivers State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the victims were reunited with their families on February 16, 2025, to receive medical attention.
Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the culprits responsible for the kidnapping.
Rev. 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.
The Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt had earlier issued a statement, signed by Reverend Father Bernadine Anaele, urging the faithful to intensify prayers for the safe and unconditional release of Rev. Livinus and those with him.
