Gunmen in Nigeria abduct four Catholic priests.

Nigerian Catholic Church authorities have asked the faithful in that country to pray for the release of four priests abducted by gunmen, this week, in the Delta State, south-east of Nigeria.

Africa Service – Vatican City

The abducted priests were celebrating their tenth anniversaries as priests

Frs. Victor Adigboluja (Ijebu Ode Diocese), Anthony Otegbola (Abeokuta Diocese), Joseph Ediae (Benin Archdiocese) and Obadjere Emmanuel (Warri Diocese) were returning from a special reunion meeting held in Warri on Monday and Tuesday. The priests met this week, to commemorate their 10th priestly anniversaries.

On Tuesday evening, after a successful reunion in Warri, the priests were relocating to the All Saints seminary in Uhiele- Ekpoma, their Alma Mater, where they were scheduled to continue the celebrations with the seminary community. On their way to Ekpoma, gunmen suddenly ambushed them, spraying the convoy of vehicles with bullets. Some priests managed to escape in their damaged cars while the four priests were captured.

Two weeks ago, five abducted nuns were released

The abductions come hardly two weeks after five religious women of the Congregation of Martha and Mary in the Diocese of Issele-Uku, State of Delta were released.

Nigeria media quoted the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka as confirming the abductions but releasing no further details.

Church authorities have asked the faithful to pray for the release of the priests.

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