Benue: Catholic Diocese, police disagree over missing seminarian’s disappearance

The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and the Benue State Police Command have given conflicting accounts over the disappearance of seminarian Kelvin Ochai from the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi.

 

While the Catholic Diocese insisted that Ochai was abducted from the bishop’s residence in the Asa III area of Otukpo on Wednesday night, the police said the incident is currently being treated as a missing person case.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Joseph Itodo, said no contact had been established with the alleged abductors since the incident occurred, adding that efforts were ongoing to secure the seminarian’s release.

 

“The Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, expressed deep sadness over the incident and called on all Christ’s faithful within the diocese and people of goodwill to offer earnest prayers for the seminarian’s quick and safe release,” the statement read.

 

“The Bishop also assured the faithful that efforts are being intensified to secure Mr. Ochai’s freedom.”

 

The diocese also prayed for the safe return of the seminarian and other Nigerians being held captive across the country.

 

However, the Benue State Police Command said the available evidence does not yet support claims that Ochai was kidnapped.

 

Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Aondona, said investigators were treating the matter as a missing person case pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

 

“The report in our possession is that the seminarian went out to take his bath, and the place where he went is different from where he resides. After some time, he could no longer be found. For now, it is still a case of a missing person,” Aondona said.

 

He also dismissed reports of an attempted abduction at the bishop’s residence about two weeks before the incident, saying no such case had been officially reported to the command.

 

“The rumour was that about two weeks ago, some persons came to the house and attempted to abduct the seminarian, but that was never officially reported to us. It was only after this incident that we started hearing about it,” he said.

 

The police said investigations were ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Ochai’s disappearance.