Benue Diocese and Police at Odds Over Seminarian's Disappearance
Catholic authorities in Otukpo say gunmen abducted seminarian Kelvin Ochai; police classify case as missing person with no confirmed abduction report.
A stark divide has emerged between Otukpo's Catholic Diocese and authorities in Benue State regarding seminarian Kelvin Ochai's vanishing. On Wednesday, the young man disappeared from the Catholic Bishop's residence in the Asa III area of Otukpo Local Government Area.
The Diocese issued a Friday statement characterizing the occurrence as an abduction carried out by armed assailants who invaded the bishop's home. The Benue State Police Command, however, has resisted labeling it as such.
Rev. Fr.
Joseph Aboyi Itodo, serving as the Diocese's Chancellor, released an official account describing how gunmen breached the bishop's residence and took Ochai during their assault. According to the Diocese, no word has surfaced regarding his current whereabouts following the disappearance.
Bishop Michael Apochi conveyed profound sorrow at the situation and urged the faithful to intercede through prayer for the seminarian's prompt and secure liberation. Conversely, DSP Peter Aondona, representing the Benue State Police Command, stated that no formal abduction complaint has reached law enforcement.
Police are instead classifying this as a case involving a missing individual. According to what police have documented, Ochai departed from the bishop's home intending to wash at a location separate from his residence.
After considerable time elapsed, staff members failed to find him upon his return. DSP Aondona underscored that the evidence available to police does not substantiate an abduction claim presently.
Police records also mentioned earlier episodes involving attempted kidnapping of the seminarian, though fuller information about these occurrences was not disclosed. The discrepancy separating these two bodies underscores ambiguity surrounding the actual chain of events.
The Diocese's official attestation to an armed invasion contrasts sharply with how police have categorized the occurrence. To date, neither organization has furnished information clarifying Ochai's present state or location.
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — Police, Catholic Diocese differ over Benue seminarian’s disappearance
- Punch Newspapers — Gunmen attack Benue bishop’s residence, abduct seminarian
- Nigerian Tribune — Gunmen kidnap Seminarian from Bishop’s residence in Benue
