The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Catholic priest

  • Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Imo

    A Catholic priest and lecturer at the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Rev. Dennis Osuagwu was, at the weekend, killed in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    The Priest, a member of the Claretian Missionaries Eastern Province, was said to be heading for St Mark’s Catholic Chaplaincy at Obinze Barracks, where he served as chaplain, to conduct the day’s mass.

    According to eye witnesses, the assailants waylaid him at Avu junction on the Port Harcourt/Owerri Road, dragged him from his car and shot him in the chest.

    He died immediately.

    The management of the Imo State Polytechnic confirmed the incident but declined comment.

    Police spokesman Andrew Enwerem confirmed the incident.

    “We are investigating the murder and the body has been deposited in the morgue for autopsy,” he said.

  • Mbaka flays blackmailers, prays for Buhari

    Mbaka flays blackmailers, prays for Buhari

    [dropcap]F[/dropcap]iery Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has prayed that President Muhammadu Buhari succeeds and that ‘God will protect him so that enemies will not destroy him’.

    The priest spoke yesterday during his 20th priestly anniversary mass at Christ the King Parish, Enugu. He described his success as victory over enemies of truth and blackmailers.

    Mbaka said despite attacks against him, God had continued to protect him because he remained on the side of the truth.

    He said: “I am not tired after 20 years; 20 years of good health; miracles from God; hard apostolic work, and 20 years in the hand of God.

    “There was a time they blackmailed me; they said such things like ‘Mbaka why? Mbaka this, Mbaka that, but I have remained in the hand of God”.

    In a special message titled: 20-point agenda, Fr. Mbaka said he was praying for President Buhari “that God will protect him so that enemies will not destroy him. I also pray for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi so that occultic men will not steal his vision”.

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  • Catholic priest kidnapped in Kogi

    A priest, Rev Innocent Umor, has been kidnapped by gunmen in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    It was gathered that five gunmen carried out the operation.

    The gunmen called the Catholic Bishop of Idah Diocese, Bishop Anthony Adaji, using the victim’s phone. They demanded N4 million for his release.

    Police spokesman Collins Adebayo could not give further details.

     

  • ASUU members boo Catholic priest at Iyayi’s commendation service

    ASUU members boo Catholic priest at Iyayi’s commendation service

    A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Andrew Obinyan, yesterday drew the anger of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) when he appealed to them to calloff the strike action and trust the Federal Government on meeting their demands. The visibly angry ASUU members interrupted Rev. Obinyan and refused to say amen to some prayers offered by him, and shouted on him to leave the podium. Rev. Obinyan was booed while giving his homily at the commendation service held for former President of ASUU, Prof. Festus Iyayi at the University of Benin. He advised ASUU not to give the Federal Government the privilege of satisfaction of fighting and defeating them, stating that he discovered that many ASUU members were retreating, as well as collapsing their structures. Rev. Obinyan urged ASSU to trust the Federal Government to keep to its promise by calling-off the strike. According to him, “My appeal is to request you to make surrender the tool of power. Do not give the FG the privilege of satisfaction of fighting and defeating you. We rely on that voice. We believe in that voice. I humbly request you to surrender first in this fight. You have made your point eloquently and clear enough. I know the Federal Government cannot be trusted because of their antecedent, but I request you to please trust them now” “ASUU will never lose by it. They will gain by it. Be assured of our prayers. We are at the receiving end. Many of your foot soldiers are collapsing. Some are retreating”, the priest said. But when the shouting by ASUU members was becoming deafening, Rev. Obinyan said, “Christ will not tell you to fight on. He will tell you to forgive and forget. My appeal is because of the sufferers.” Speaking with the media, President of ASUU, Nasir Isa- Fagge, said the Reverend Father spoke for himself, and that ASSUU members were steadfast in their demand. He said they would not call-off the strike until the Federal Government meet the four-point demand in their letter.