By Charles Igwe
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu is appealing for prayers for the safe release of Fr. Marcellinus Obioma Okide, who was reportedly abducted on September 17. Fr. Okide serves as the Parish Priest of St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish within the diocese.
The Chancellor of Enugu Diocese, Fr. Wilfred Chidi Agubuchie, provided details about the abduction in a statement on September 19. According to Fr. Agubuchie, Fr. Okide was kidnapped around 5:00 p.m. while traveling along the Eke-Egede-Affa Road. He was en route to his parish, St. Mary Amofia-Agu Affa, when the incident occurred.
Fr. Agubuchie conveyed the diocese’s deep concern over the situation and requested prayers for the swift and safe release of Fr. Okide. He also urged for a change of heart on the part of the kidnappers.
Expressing dismay at the persistence of such criminal acts in the region, Fr. Agubuchie invoked divine intervention, saying, “May the Lord who came to set captives free (Lk 4.18) deliver our brother from the hands of our enemies and save our country Nigeria.”
Nigeria has been grappling with security challenges since 2009 when the Boko Haram insurgency began with the goal of establishing an Islamic state. Since then, the group, one of Africa’s largest Islamist organizations, has carried out indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups, as well as civilians. The security situation in Nigeria has been further complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also known as the Fulani Militia.
