Two Catholic Priests, Rev. Fr. Peter Nwachukwu, and Rev. Fr. Cajetan Apeh, Parish Priest and Assistant Parish Priest respectively, of St. Theresa’s Parish Umueze-Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State, have been successfully rescued from kidnappers, who held them since Monday, December 24.
Blueprint reported that the two priests were rescued by police special teams comprising of FSARS, PMF, Counter Terrorism team, and Special Anti Cult team in conjunction with other sister agencies and local vigilante groups.
The combine security team, it was learnt, mounted intensive search and rescue operations for the priests since the incident took place with the aid of modern technology and aerial surveillance; which reportedly forced the abductors to abandon them at about 6:45pm on Thursday, December 27.
According to Haruna Muhammed, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, the two priests are in stable condition, and have since reunited with their parish, while effort is being intensified to apprehend perpetrators in order to bring them to justice.
Muhammed further conveyed a message from the state Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Baba Umar, reassuring residents of the state of their safety during the yuletide period and beyond, with warning on criminal elements that Anambra is not a place to operate as they will surely meet their waterloo and be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.
