Abuja – The Most Rev.
Felix Ajakaye, the Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, has called for the
release of two Reverend Sisters and a Reverend Father who were kidnapped
while on official assignment.
Ajakaye, in a statement, Saturday, said that Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, the
Vicar-General of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, had been in captivity since
Sunday, April 24.
The bishop said that two Sisters of St Louis, Rev. Sr. Perpetua Apo and
Rev. Sr. Bukola Familade, and their driver, Mr Zwugwa Zibai, were also
kidnapped on Thursday, May 12.
“For over three weeks, Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, the Vicar-General of
Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, has been in captivity.
“According to the report, the humble Parish Priest of St Bernard
Catholic Church, Okpoka, Okpokwu Local Government Area, Benue State, was
kidnapped on a highway.
“He was returning from an outstation of the parish, where he had gone to
celebrate the Holy Eucharist (Mass). He is the first Catholic priest
from Otukpa,’’ he said.
Ajakaye said that since the abduction of Adeyi, there had been no
information concerning his whereabouts.
“Last week, Thursday, May 12, two Sisters of St Louis, Reverend Sisters
Perpetua Apo and Bukola Familade, and their driver, Mr Zwugwa Zibai,
were also abducted.
“The three of them were travelling from Kaduna to Ijebu-Itele in Ogun
State for a programme when their vehicle broke down at Kajola on
Ore-Lagos road.
“They then called some Reverend Sisters in the neighbouring town for
help. By the time the Sisters and others got to the scene, they found
the vehicle but the three were nowhere to be found.
“It was later established that they had been abducted.
“These unfortunate incidents are not palatable at all. Indeed, apart
from the two cases of abduction, there are other kidnap cases pending,
both known and unknown,” he said.
Ajakaye appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians and the government to
proffer practical and lasting solutions to the menace of abduction
plaguing the country.
“We must stop chasing the shadows.
Whenever somebody is abducted, it is
sickening to hear state governors prepared to give millions of naira to
anybody or group with any information on the whereabouts of the abducted
persons
.
“Let such governors look inwards and do the needful,” he said.
The cleric stressed that Nigeria ought to be habitable for all citizens,
adding that the country should be “where there is true love, justice,
peace, harmony and development”.
“In this light, I call on all well-meaning Nigerians to appeal to the
abductors of all persons in captivity to release them.
“These include the abductors of Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, Rev. Sr. Perpetua
Apo and Rev. Sr. Bukola Familade, and their driver, Mr Zwugwa Zibai.
“The Catholic Church, the Catholic Women Religious — all the Sisters of
the different Religious Congregations — are pleading with their
abductors to please release them.
`They should release them so that they can continue their humble service
to humanity, as directed by God,’’ Ajakaye said. (NAN)
