By Jane Akuba
After five days in captivity, the two Catholic priests who were kidnapped last Saturday night by gunmen in Agbarho-Otor, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, have breathed the sweet air of freedom from their abductors.
The priests, Rev. Fr. Raphael Ogigbah, parish priest of St. Francis Catholic Parish Agbarha-Otor, Catholic Diocese of Warri, and Rev. Fr. Kunav Chochos, a missionary priest of the Schoenstartt Fathers, reportedly regained their freedom from the abductors on Thursday, May 4, 2023.
According to reports gathered, the embattled priests were released from the hoodlums’ hideout at noon on Thursday, and have since reunited with the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Warri.
A senior priest in the diocese who confirmed the release of the abducted Reverend fathers to journalists ,did not indicate whether or not any ransom was paid to secure their release.
It was however gathered that the abductors had earlier demanded the sum of N20 million as a ransom for the release of the Catholic priests.
Speaking on this recent development, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, told journalists that the Command had taken every security measure to ensure that the abducted priests regain their freedom.
Recall that YourCitiNews reported that Frs. Ogigbah and Chochos were kidnapped in front of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor near Ughelli last Saturday.
Rev. Fr. Chochos, who works and lives in Ibadan, Oyo State, was in Delta State to visit his friend, Fr. Ogigbah, at Agbarha-Otor, the hometown of the famous Ibru family.
Fr. Ogigba was playing host to the visiting Fr. Kunav, a missionary priest of the Schoenstartt order.
Both clerics had visited another colleague priest living in the area, and were returning to their base when the hoodlums struck whisking them away.
