Nigeria: Kidnapping and Murder of a Catholic Priest: Rev. Fr. John Adeyi

Photo credit: Daily Post Nigeria

Rev. Fr. John Adeyi was abducted on April 10, 2016, at Odoba Village, along the Otukpo-Enugu Road. It has been reported that he was on his way to mediate over a dispute.

On June 26, 2016, Peter Duru, Makurdi at Vanguard Nigeria reported that “Benue South was jolted by the discovery of the decomposing remains of the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, who was kidnapped over two months ago by some armed men. Adeyi’s skeleton was found behind the office complex of Ogbadibo Local Government Education Authority at Otukpa, his home town, by a search party that had combed the area to locate him."

Photo credit: Vanguard Nigeria

"He had been abducted at Odoba village, along the busy Otukpo-Enugu Road after mediating in a crisis between parishioners and the parish priest of Odoba at the behest of the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo, Bishop Michael Apochi. However, the priest had successfully resolved the crisis and was returning to Okpoga, when the armed men, on motorcycle, intercepted his vehicle and abducted him to an unknown destination. His disappearance sparked angry reactions from his family members and the Catholic faithful in Benue who, at the time, warned that the priest had health challenges. It was learned that after his abduction, the kidnappers made an overture to his family demanding N2million ransom. It was reliably gathered that the said amount was paid for his release but the abductors held on to him…” Fr. Adeyi whose body was recovered in the bush was killed within his Otukpa community.

Photo of Mother of Late Rev. Fr. John Adeyi (credit: Vanguard Nigeria)

Vanguard Nigeria quoted Rev. Fr. John Adeyi’s mother as having said, “My son’s spirit will haunt his killers – Bereaved mother” Report by Peter Duru, Makurdi. Read more.

SitiTalk Blog honors the memory of Rev. Fr. John Adeyi. We thank GOD Almighty for the great work he did while he was living. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace!

Follow-up

On 29 of June, 2016, PulseNg reported that “a suspected kidnapper and murderer have been arrested by the Benue State Police for his alleged involvement in the killing of Rev. Fr. John Adeyi, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo. More effort is being made by the police to apprehend other members of the abduction group, according to the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Okafor.” Read more.

SitiTalkBlog promises to follow-up on Late Rev. Fr. Adeyi’s case.