'Gunmen' Kidnap Catholic Bishop In Imo State

Suspected gunmen have reportedly abducted the auxiliary Bishop of Owerri archdiocese in Imo State, Bishop Chikwe Moses.

AllNews Nigeria learnt the bishop was whisked away on Monday while coming out from his Owerri residence.

According to a release from the archdiocese of Owerri, “your eminences, your graces, your lordships, it is sad to announce to you that our Auxiliary Bishop, Chikwe Moses, has been kidnapped. There has not been any form of communication from the kidnappers since his kidnap on Monday.

READ ALSO: Kukah Responds To Critics, Calls Them "Emergency Critics"

“Trusting in the maternal assistance of the blessed Virgin Mary, we pray for safety and quick release,” it concluded.

Bishop Chikwe Moses will soon be taking over from Archbishop A. J. V Obinna who has retired.

The Imo State police spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the incident, said the command had swung into action to fish out the kidnappers of the Bishop.

Meanwhile, Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has responded to critics, describing them as "emergency critics".

AllNews Nigeria recalls that Kukah earlier criticized President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration, stating that the country was "journeying into darkness".

This has however not gone well with Buhari supporters and the All Progressives Congress (APC) who have all come out against the respected cleric for castigating the present administration.

Critics said that he had been disseminating words that were injurious to the unity of the country.

In clarifying his earlier statement, Kukah said, 

“I am pained and very sad that my emergency critics never see that many innocent lives are being lost on a daily basis. The loss of lives in the last ten years, even before the advent of this administration, calls for concern.

“The reactions are a reflection of every citizen that make up Nigeria. It is sad that when you drop something in Nigeria, everybody goes back to their enclave and abandon the larger picture. I am someone who never takes offence to what people say about me.

“What I said was my opinion based on evidence and what has happened in Nigeria, and if you looked into the records, there is evidence that justifies that statement, and if anyone thinks I am wrong, they should come out with a superior position..." Read more