Benue: Drama as Catholic Diocese, police give conflicting reports on disappearance of seminarian in Otukpo

The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and the Benue State Police Command have offered conflicting explanations regarding the disappearance of a seminarian, Kelvin Ochai, from the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo, Most Rev. Michael Apochi.

While the Catholic Diocese maintained that the seminarian was abducted on Wednesday night from the Bishop’s residence at Asa III in Otukpo, the police said the matter is currently being investigated as a missing person case rather than a confirmed kidnapping.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Joseph Itodo, disclosed that there had been no communication from those allegedly responsible for the abduction. He added that efforts were ongoing to ensure Ochai’s safe return.

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

The diocese further entrusted the seminarian and all other kidnapping victims across Nigeria to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying for their safe and speedy release.

However, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Peter Aondona, said the command had not established that the seminarian was kidnapped, noting that available information pointed to a missing person report.

“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,” the police spokesman said.

Aondona also stated that the command had not received any formal report regarding an alleged attempted abduction at the Bishop’s residence about two weeks before the incident.

“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 spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the seminarian’s disappearance.