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Church Confirms Release Of Kidnapped Catholic Priest In Imo

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,

Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secre­tary early Thursday morning, dis­closed that Ubaechu was released on, March 26, 2025.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 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 statementon 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 in 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.

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