Police, Catholic Diocese Differ Over Missing Benue Seminarian

The Benue State Police Command and the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo have given different accounts of the disappearance of a seminarian attached to the Bishop’s residence in Otukpo.

The diocese said Kelvin Ochai was abducted from the Catholic Bishop’s Residence in Asa III, Otukpo town, on Wednesday night. Daily Trust reported that the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo, confirmed the abduction in a Friday statement.

Punch reported that police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondona said the command was treating the matter as a missing-person case because it had not received an official report confirming an abduction.

Aondona said the information before the police was that the seminarian went out to bathe and was later not seen again. He also said police had only heard of an earlier attempted abduction around the residence after the latest incident was reported.

Daily Trust reported that Bishop Michael Ekwoyi Apochi appealed for prayers for Ochai’s safe return and said efforts were being made to secure his freedom.

Sources: Punch, Daily Trust