Owerri Catholic Archdiocese laments abduction of 50 priests in 10 years

Priests under the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province have revealed that over 50 of their members have fallen victim to kidnapping incidents since 2015.
In a communiqué made available to journalists in Owerri, the secretary to the Archdiocesan Priests’ Association, Rev. Fr. Chijioke Ekeada, lamented that the Catholic clergy have become an endangered group in the hands of kidnappers, who have turned the abduction of priests for ransom into a thriving enterprise.

Fr Ekeada stated that this development has adversely affected the Church, with little to no serious effort by the government to address the crisis.

“The situation is dire. Kidnappings for ransom, abductions for organ harvesting, and violent invasions of people’s lands and farms are now commonplace across Imo State and Igboland.
“These horrors are no longer distant headlines—they are personal. Our priests and faithful parishioners have suffered terribly, and the pain continues to spread,” he lamented.

Fr Ekeada narrated that a lot of individuals have fallen victim over the past decade—from 2015 to 2025—with more than fifty members of the clergy among the affected, along with other religious persons.

He noted that the situation is particularly severe in the dioceses of Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu, and Owerri, with Okigwe Diocese recording the highest number of priests abducted.

“Our priests and faithful parishioners have suffered terribly and the pain continues to spread. We have innumerable number of people who have fallen victims in the past ten years, between 2015 and 2025, there are more than 50 clergy among religious victims of this horrendous situation, with Okigwe Diocese recording 47 victims and two deaths from Owerri and Orlu respectively, all in Imo State alone.
“The perpetrators, often identified as Fulani herdsmen, strike with increasing boldness and cruelty. This is a nightmare no one should endure, let alone our people,” he further lamented.

Fr Ekeada further lamented: “Our mothers no longer feel safe on their farms. Hunger, poverty, and despair are rising. Exploitation of vulnerable youths is growing unchecked. The situation is becoming intolerable.
“As priests, we remain in steadfast solidarity with our people. Spiritually and morally, we stand by them in this war against fear and destruction. We will continue to pray, speak out and act with courage. We will not abandon our flock.”

The association called on the Director-General of the Department of State Security, DSS, and other security agencies to collaborate with local vigilante groups in order to stem the tide of insecurity and safeguard lives and property.

Owerri Catholic Archdiocese laments abduction of 50 priests in 10 years