TheNewsGuru

Tag: Catholic Priest

  • Tragic as Nigerian Catholic priest dies while playing tennis In Anambra

    Tragic as Nigerian Catholic priest dies while playing tennis In Anambra

    Reverend Father, Anthony Udogu, a Nigerian Catholic priest has reportedly died while playing lawn tennis.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Anambra State in a statement announced the demise of its priest on Tuesday.

    The Diocesan Chancellor, Diocesan Catholic Secretariat, Awka, Charles Ndubisi, disclosed that Udogu died in the early hours of Monday, May 19, 2025.

    He said the Catholic Diocese of Awka condoles with the family, parishioners and all those who mourn his death.

    The deceased, who was born on December 24, 1964 and ordained on August 19, 1995, was the Parish Priest of St. Francis Parish, Awka and Dean of Awka Il Deanery until his sudden death.

    The statement read, “With faith in the resurrection of the dead, the Catholic Diocese of Awka announces the demise of our brother priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Nnaemeka Udogu, whose sudden death occurred, in the early hours of today(Monday) May 19.

    “He slumped while playing lawn tennis, and was quickly rushed to the nearby hospital.

    “All efforts to save his life proved abortive. Until his demise, he was the Parish Priest of St. Francis Parish Awka and Dean of Awka Il Deanery.

    “Please note that the funeral arrangement will be announced soon. May the soul of Rev. Fr. Anthony Nnaemeka Udogu rest in the bosom of the Lord, Amen.”

  • Just In: Church confirms release of kidnapped catholic priest

    Just In: Church confirms release of kidnapped catholic priest

    The Owerri Archdiocesan Catholic Secretariat has confirmed the release of Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, the kidnapped Parish Priest of the Holy Family Catholic Church, Izombe.

    A statement by Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbara, the Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary early Thursday morning, disclosed that Ubaechu was released on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

    The clergyman was kidnapped in the evening of Sunday March 23 at Ejemekuru on his way to Owerri for the annual retreat of priests of the Owerri Archdiocese.

    It was also gathered that the kidnappers had demanded for N20 million ransom for the release of the priest.

    But Mbara, in the statement announcing the release of his colleague, was silent on the details concerning the freedom of  Ubaechu from captivity.

    The statement on the release captioned, “Notification on the release of Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu”, read in part:

    “I am directed to inform you that our priest, Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu who was kidnapped on Sunday March 23, 2025 has been released.

    “He regained his freedom from his abductors today March 26, 2025.

    “We thank God for his infinite mercy and for answering our prayers. We appreciate your fraternal solidarity and prayers. To God be the glory.”

    Reacting to the news of Ubaechu’s release, a parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church, Izombe, who simply gave his name as Okey, expressed gratitude to God for the freedom of Ubaechu.

    “We thank God for the release of Fr. Ubaechu and at the same time calling on the Imo State Government and security agency to do something on the repeated incidents of violent crimes on Ejemekuru axis of Izombe/Ogbaku road.

    “ This same axis where Fr. Ubaechu was kidnapped on Sunday was exactly the same area that Fr. Mathias Opara was kidnapped sometime in May 26, 2023 after attending the burial of the late father of a brother priest in Izombe.

    “Apart from the kidnapping of these two priests, a number of other kidnap and armed robbery cases have been reported around that same spot, suggesting that the criminals have safe routes of escape around there,” Okey said.

    He said, to forestall further incident of crime around the axis, a security checkpoint should be established around the place.

  • Troops arrest 2 suspects over killing of Catholic priest

    Troops arrest 2 suspects over killing of Catholic priest

    Troops of the special military taskforce, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), have arrested two suspected killers of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Maj. Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer of OPSH, on Wednesday in Jos.

    NAN repots that Okechukwu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafachan, Kaduna State, was abducted on March 4, at about 9:15 p.m.

    Okechukwu, who was  abducted at his residence in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, was later found dead on March 5.

    Zhakom said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday, following a raid troops conducted in a settlement at Warsa-Piti community of Lere LGA of the state.

    “The suspects were arrested following a raid on the prime suspect’s hideout located at a Ruga settlement in Warsa-Piti community, Lere LGA of Kaduna State.

    “During preliminary investigation, the prime suspect, a 33-year-old man, confessed to have been contracted by another man, living in the same house with the slain priest to kidnap him.

    “Troops in a follow-up operation arrested the suspect at Agwan Sarki, Tachira in Kaura LGA.

    “The suspects are in custody undergoing further interrogation,”he said.

    The media officer said that investigation were still ongoing to unravel the whereabout of the remaining persons who participated in the henius crime.

  • JTF rescues abducted Catholic priest in Anambra

    JTF rescues abducted Catholic priest in Anambra

    The police in Anambra have confirmed the rescue of Rev. Fr. Stephen Echezona, abducted at Ichida in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the rescue in a statement issued on Sunday in Awka.

    He stated that the rescue operation was carried out by the Joint Security Task Force (JTF).

    According to Ikenga, JTF, comprising the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Anambra vigilance group operatives in Ichida and Ihiala, successfully secured the release of the priest at Ihiala.

    ”In the early hours of today, March 23, a joint security team comprising the police, military, civil defence, and vigilante operatives rescued Rev. Fr. Stephen Echezona at Ihiala,” he stated.

    He further explained that the priest was rescued unharmed.

    Ikenga said Echezona was abducted at a petrol station in Ichida by the criminals operating in a white Lexus SUV without a number plate.

    He added that the operatives engaged the assailants in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon the SUV in an attempt to escape.

    Ikenga stated that they, however, took the priest hostage as they fled the scene.

    He said a coordinated pursuit by security operatives across various checkpoints led to the criminals abandoning Echezona at Ihiala before escaping through a nearby bush.

    He maintained that the JTF recovered the abandoned SUV while efforts were ongoing to track down the hoodlums and recover the priest’s Toyota Highlander.

    Also, police operatives attached to the Obosi Division caught and detained a man with a Beretta pistol on Sunday.

    On the same day, security operatives rescued three kidnapped victims on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Ozubulu.

    Meanwhile, the command has assured residents of their commitment to ensuring their safety and apprehending those responsible for criminal activities in the state.

  • Abducted Catholic priest killed in Kaduna

    Abducted Catholic priest killed in Kaduna

    The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna has confirmed the death  of its priest, Rev. Fr Sylvester Okechukwu, just a day after he was kidnapped.

    Okechukwu was the pastor of St Mary Catholic Church, Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    A statement signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev.Fr. Jacob Shanet, said Okechukwu was killed in the early hours of Wednesday after being kidnapped from his residence on Tuesday night.

    “After being taken by his abductors, we regret to inform you that Fr Sylvester was cruelly killed in the early hours of Wednesday, March 5.

    “It is yet to be determined why he was killed,” he said.

    Shanet described the deceased priest as a dedicated servant of God who worked selflessly in the vineyard of the Lord.

    “This untimely and brutal loss has left us broken and devastated. He was always available and accessible to his parishioners.

    “His untimely death has left an indelible void within our diocesan family, and we share in the pain of his passing with his family, friends and all those who loved him,” Shanet said.

    He appealed to members of the Takad community to remain calm and steadfast in prayer as well as desist from taking the law into their hands.

    According to him, funeral arrangements of the late priest will be communicated in due course.

  • Nigerian priest shoots two boys dead for firing knockout on New year’s day (video)

    Nigerian priest shoots two boys dead for firing knockout on New year’s day (video)

    A Catholic priest, Rev. Father Joseph Enyinaya of St Colombus Catholic Church Obodo Amaimo has allegedly shot and killed two people in Obodo Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State for setting knockouts on New Year’s eve day.

    According to an X user, Okechukwu Igboke Uzo, the incident happened on Tuesday night, at about 10: 45pm before new year day.

    Sharing a footage from the incident, Uzo disclosed that the reverend father used cartridge gun on the boys.

    The post read: “The Parish priest of St Columbus Catholic Amaimo Ikeduru gunned down three boys for shooting knockout around Church premises on new year day celebration. Reverend father used cartridge gun on Boys Church Alakee, mass endiaa Aru!!”

    TNG understands that Father Joseph Enyinaya, has however, been arrested, the police confirms.

    Speaking about the development, Imo police spokesman, Henry Okoye on Thursday said: “The priest has been arrested, and the body of the boy has been recovered and deposited at Atta Ikeduru Mortuary.”

    Okoye added that a detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident. 

    “The police investigation is expected to shed more light on the events leading up to the incident,” he said.

    See video below;

     

     

  • Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Anambra

    Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Anambra

    The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi has announced the gruesome m$rder of Reverend Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo by unknown assailants.

    According to a statement released by Rev. Fr. Raphael Ezeogu, Chancellor of the Nnewi Diocese, Rev Fr Raphael Ezeonu, the deceased who is also a pharmacist was shot dead in Ihiala on Boxing Day, December 26 between 7 pm and 8 pm along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.

    The statement described the incident as a devastating loss but expressed faith in divine consolation.
    At the time of his death, he was serving as the Manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala.

    The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi called on the faithful to offer prayers and Holy Masses for the eternal rest of Fr. Tobias and to console his bereaved family. The Diocese said funeral arrangements of Fr Okonkwo will be announced in due course.

    The killing of the clergyman came barely two weeks after the abduction of a 75-year-old retired Anglican Archbishop, Most Reverend Godwin Okpala and their whereabouts have remained unknown.

  • Gunmen abduct Catholic priest in Enugu

    Gunmen abduct Catholic priest in Enugu

    A group of unknown gunmen have kidnapped a yet-to-identified Catholic priest along the Opi-Ugwuogo expressway in Enugu State.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) learnt that the incident occurred on Saturday evening, November 30th.

    According to reports, the kidnappers disguised as police operatives and operated at a checkpoint before whisking the priest away.

    A viral video of the incident showed that the gunmen escaped with the priest when the escorts of the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai, arrived at the scene.

    According to an eye witness, the kidnappers also shot at a windscreen of a hilux, although the occupants were not kidnapped following the arrival of the deputy governor’s convoy.

    The deputy governor was returning from the burial of a brother to former Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mbah, a Deputy Inspector General of Police.

    “It was someone inside the hilux that shouted that the people we thought were policemen were actually kidnappers,” said a source.

    “They were firing at the convoy as they were running into the bush. But already they had carried the priest inside.”

    The passenger in the hilux was heard saying that the bullet nearly hit his head.

  • Police confirm abduction of Imo Catholic priest by unknown armed men

    Police confirm abduction of Imo Catholic priest by unknown armed men

    Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted the parish priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Parish in Obollo community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Azubuike.

    The Imo State Police command spokesman, Henry Okoye told Channels Television that the command got information from the parish on Tuesday night, that the Catholic priest was abducted on his way from Port Harcourt on an official assignment at Ayayi community within Obollo in Isiala Mbano local government council.

    However, he said that the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Danjuma Aboki has set up a high-powered tactical team to go after the abductors in a bid to rescue the Catholic priest unconditionally

    He appeals to the people of the area to remain calm as the command will leave no stone unturned in rescuing the Catholic priest.

    Meanwhile, in a statement issued by The Catholic Diocese of Okigwe on Tuesday night, they urge both the clergy and laity of the diocese to pray fervently for the safe return of the priest.

  • Why I knocked altar boy’s head – Viral catholic priest reveals

    Why I knocked altar boy’s head – Viral catholic priest reveals

    A Catholic priest has tendered a public apology for knocking the head of an altar server while officiating a wedding ceremony.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that a video shared online showed the moment the priest officiating a wedding ceremony knocked the altar boy, assisting him for not holding the microphone close enough to the groom’s mouth well.

    The video sparked outrage on social media and the priest have since apologized.

    In a recent video, the yet to be identified priest apologized to the altar server and his family. He also described his action as “a mistake”.

    He said, “This your boy was handling mic and he did not hold the microphone well towards the mouth of the person that will confess their vow. So accidentally or mistakenly, I knocked his head.

    “Eventually someone took the picture and posted it on the internet. They said I should come and apologise to your family and to him, that I am sorry for what happened.

    “It was not a deliberate act. It was just something I did unconsciously because of the people who were doing the wedding. That was what precipitated the action. I am very sorry.”