Catholic Church denies abducted Owerri bishop found dead

Catholic auxilliary bishop of Owerri Moses Chikwe

Catholic Archbishop of Owerri A. Obinna has denied reports that the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese Moses Chikwe, who was kidnapped on Sunday, has been killed by his abductors.

It was rumoured on Tuesday evening that the corpse of the prelate was found in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.

The church, however, countered it in a statement on Wednesday issued by Rev. Fr. Nnaemeka Njezi, the assistant secretary of the archdiocese.

The statement, which described the news as misleading, asked the Catholic faithful to be prayerful.

The statement reads, “His grace, Most Rev Anthony Obinna, Archbishop of Owerri, hereby requests all Christ’s faithful and people of goodwill at large to disregard the purported news feed by one Useni Yusuf at AJ press on the killing of the auxiliary bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev Moses Chikwe.

“This information is unconfirmed, misleading and does not come from the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.”

The statement further stated that the archdiocese was hopeful that the abducted prelate and his driver Ndubuisi Robert would be released unhurt.