Anambra State is gripped with anxiety following the sudden disappearance of the Retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala.
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The respected cleric, along with his driver, has been unaccounted for since embarking on a journey to Umuchu, a community in the state, on Friday.
As of the time of this report, there is no confirmation on whether the Archbishop and his driver have been abducted.
Efforts to locate them have so far yielded no results, with no communication or trace of their whereabouts.
The distressing news has prompted a prayer alert from the current Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi, who urged members of the church and the general public to engage in intercessory prayers.
In his statement, Rt. Rev. Obi expressed deep concern over the incident:
"With a deeply burdened heart, we write to inform you of the distressing news that our revered Father in God, the Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala... has been missing since yesterday morning. He embarked on a journey to Umuchu accompanied by his driver but, unfortunately, never arrived at his destination."
Rt. Rev. Obi assured that relevant authorities have been contacted and expressed hope in God’s intervention for their safe return.
The Anambra State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Toochukwu Ikenga, stated that he was yet to be informed of the situation when contacted.
This unsettling development comes amid a rise in violent activities by unknown gunmen in Anambra State, fueling fears about the safety of residents and prominent figures in the region.
The Christian community and concerned citizens are calling on the authorities to intensify efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding the Archbishop’s disappearance and ensure his safe return.