The Secretary, Niger State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Raphael Opawoye, has confirmed that the Very Rev Father Leo Raphael Ozigi alongside 44 other villagers were abducted in Niger State. He said the Rev Father was abducted on his way to Gwada from Sarkin Pawa when he ran into bandits operating on the Sarkin Pawa-Gwada road who took him away alongside other villagers.
The Rev Father is said to be a Catholic Parish priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Sarkin Pawa, the Headquarters of Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Secretary, Munya Local Government, James Jagaba, described the renewed banditry operations in Munya Local Government since Saturday as pathetic
He said; “the entire Munya Local Government is in disarray. The situation in the area is pathetic. There’s kidnap in all part of the local government.”
A resident in the area, Shehu Abubakar, told our correspondent that 44 other abducted villagers were among those who returned to their communities from IDP camps on Saturday.
Abubakar further lamented that bandits who have been operating unchallenged since Saturday moved freely on the Sarkin Pawa-Gwada road with the herds of cattle they rusted during attacks on communities.
