- We’ll get his killers – Gov. Ortom
From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
ABOUT 60 days after his abduction by gunmen, Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Revd. Fr. John Adeyi, has been found dead in Otupka, Ogbadibo Local Government area of Benue State.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who announced Adeyi’s death, during a town hall meeting he held with Igede people yesterday at the College of Education, Oju, auditorium, said the skeleton was found last Tuesday in Otukpa.
The Catholic priest was kidnapped between Otukpa and Ugbokolo in Ogbadibo and Okpokwu Local Government Area.
Family sources said N2 million ransom was paid, even as the abductors cut off all communication with the family until his skeleton was found last Tuesday.
The governor said the skeleton was discovered three kilometres away from the road, adding that he has directed the police and medical personnel to collect it for postmortem.
Ortom, who asked the people to observe one minute silence for the repose of the priest’s soul, vowed that his killers must be brought to book.
While noting that his prayer of dedication on May 30 was being answered by God, the governor stressed that anyone who tries God would regret it.
Meanwhile, Idoma socio-cultural group, Opiatoha K’Idoma has described as unfortunate, the kidnap and killing of the priest.
In a statement signed by the Secretary-General, Chief Adoka Adaji, the group lamented that the killing showed that there is not enough security in Idomaland.
“There is no security in Idomaland, otherwise, the kidnappers of the late Rev. Fr. John Adeyi would have been exposed. The Idoma people are no longer their brothers’ keepers,” he said.