The Owerri Archdiocesan Catholic Secretariat has confirmed the release of Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, the Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, Izombe, who was kidnapped on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement on Thursday, March 27, the Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary, Rev. Fr. Patrick Mbara, announced that Fr. Ubaechu was freed on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
“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,” Mbara stated.
The priest was kidnapped at Ejemekuru while on his way to Owerri for a retreat of priests under the Owerri Archdiocese.
Reports had earlier claimed that the kidnappers demanded N20 million ransom, but Mbara did not mention whether any ransom was paid for his release.
A parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church, Izombe, who gave his name as Okey, expressed joy over the priest’s freedom but called for better security in the area.
“We thank God for the release of Fr. Ubaechu and at the same time call on the Imo State Government and security agencies to do something about the repeated incidents of violent crimes on the Ejemekuru axis of the 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 on May 26, 2023, after attending the burial of the late father of a brother priest in Izombe.”
He noted that many other cases of kidnapping and armed robbery had been reported in the same area, suggesting that criminals use it as an escape route.
Okey urged the government to set up a security checkpoint in the area to prevent further attacks.
