Kidnapped Catholic Priest Regains Freedom In Delta, 3 Days After


Rev. Fr. Jude Onyebadi, the abducted Catholic priest in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state, has been released.

Fr Onyebadi was allegedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen at his farm around the Isele-Uku/Issele-Mkpetime Road in Aniocha council on Saturday.


According to a community source, who preferred anonymity, Fr. Onyebadi was freed by his abductors around 4:30pm on Tuesday, September 29th.

Orient Weekend learnt that upon the priest’s release, he was rushed to a hospital around the Asaba axis of the state capital for medical treatment.



It was not clear if the cleric sustained any injury during his ordeal in the hands of his captors.

The source, however, could not confirmed if any ransom was paid to secure his release.

Reports added that this was the second time the priest was kidnapped by gunmen. The priest was forcefully taken away at his farm at the Isele-Uku/Issele-Mkpetime Road on Saturday alongside three of his workers.

He was previously abducted in 2018, which led to protest by Catholic priests in the Isele-Uku Catholic Diocese.

He is the parish priest of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Issele-Azagba, a neighbouring community to Asaba, the state capital.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, could not immediately confirm the release of the victim. Onovwakpoyeya, however, promised to investigate the development as at the time of filing this report.

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