Concerned by the abduction of rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and two others on Friday along they Benin-Auchi Road, Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Gabriel Dunia, has directed Catholic faithful in Iyuku, Ozekhome's hometown; and Auchi to keep prayerful vigil for God's intervention.
While Ozekhome, who was kidnapped along with his driver, is a Knight of St. Mulumba; the third victim who is a chieftain of the All Progressive Party in Edo North, Athanasius Ogbome, is also said to be a member of the Catholic Church.
Dunia expressed worry over what he described as the rampant cases of kidnapping in the country, particularly in Edo State.
He said he received the news of Ozekhome's kidnap at about 11.30pm last Saturday through a telephone call from one of the knights of the church and immediately put a call to Governor Adanms Oshiomhole and some of his aides, but that he could not access them.
He said, "I called some priests, then I called the Reverend Father in his hometown, Iyuku in Agenebode, that they should immediately mobilise the faithful to the church to pray to create adoration before the blessed sacrament to bring about quick resolution as regard the release of Chief Mike Ozekhome and all others who have been kidnapped.
I also said they should follow it up subsequently the following day with rosary procession with candle light in the night or without candle light during the day, so that if it's because of our sins that God allows us to be punished, the heaven being, led by the mother of Jesus, will now pray on our behalf that God will have mercy on us.
"That is what we are doing right now, that those who had planned to kidnap Chief Mike Ozekhome and all others, they should have a repentant heart and see the better things they should do rather than keeping him hostage, that they should quickly reverse and release him for us.
Meanwhile, Edo Youth Congress of Nigeria, on Thursday joined other groups to condemn the abduction of Ozekhome and the others.
The EYC in a communiqué issued after a rally it held in Benin, said contrary to purported belief in blood money among some youths, most youths believe in the dignity of labour and total abhorrence for anything with link to blood money.
In the communiqué signed by its President, Dan Eichi;, Secretary-General, Kola Edokpayi; and Media and Publicity Secretary, Michael Eguaogie, the group flayed the abduction of Ozekhome, a patron of EYC, "for making themselves worshippers of blood money and thereby demanding N150m ransom."
It read in part, "The Edo Youth Congress of Nigeria is appalled by the worrisome and ceaseless spate of kidnapping in Edo State. It is quite curious as this serial kidnapping has (now) assumed another dimension as prominent sons and daughters of Edo State origin are now being kidnapped at reckless frequency, and there are no signs on the horizon that it will abate any time soon."
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