Rivers Catholic priest, others regain freedom after four days in kidnappers’ den

By Paul Dada

A Catholic priest, Rev. Father Livinus Maurice and two others have regained their freedom four days after they were abducted along the Elele-Isiokpo Road in the Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Father Maurice who was the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Isokpo, was kidnapped last Wednesday while returning from a hospital.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed their release on Sunday.  In a statement, the spokesperson for the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said their freedom happened because of  the combined efforts of the police, soldiers from a Joint Task Force, and local vigilantes.

She said, “Their release came after pressure from the combined efforts of the security team comprising policemen, soldiers from the Joint Task Force in Isiokpo, and the local vigilantes,” Iringe-Koko stated. “The victims have been reunited with their families for medical attention, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the culprits.”