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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police, Catholic Diocese differ over Benue seminarian’s disappearance

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Benue State Police Command is treating the disappearance of seminarian Kelvin Ochai as a missing person case, contradicting reports of abduction.
  • Police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondona stated there is no official report confirming an abduction, only that Ochai went to bathe and did not return.
  • The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, however, described the incident as an abduction and is praying for Ochai's safe release, with efforts to secure his freedom being intensified.

The Benue State Police Command is officially treating the disappearance of Kelvin Ochai, a seminarian attached to the Catholic Bishop’s residence in Otukpo, as a missing person case. This stance contrasts with earlier reports suggesting he was abducted by gunmen.

The report in our possession was that the seminarian went out to take his bath and the believe is that where he went to take the bath is different from where he resides. So, after a while they didn’t see him again. For now it’s still a case of missing person.

— DSP Peter AondonaExplaining the police's classification of the incident as a missing person case.

DSP Peter Aondona, the command's spokesperson, clarified that the police have not received any official confirmation of an abduction. According to the report in their possession, Ochai reportedly went out to take a bath and did not return to his residence. "For now it’s still a case of missing person," Aondona stated. He also addressed rumors of an attempted abduction two weeks prior, noting that this was not an official report received by the police at the time.

The rumour of his abduction was that about two weeks back some persons came to the house and tried to abduct the semanirian but this is not official report from us. It was when this incident happened that we were hearing that.

— DSP Peter AondonaAddressing rumors of a prior attempted abduction.

Conversely, the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, through a statement issued by its Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi Itodo, has described the incident as an abduction. The diocese reported that no information regarding the seminarian's whereabouts has been received yet. Most Rev. Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, the Catholic Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, expressed deep sadness and called for prayers from the faithful for Ochai's quick and safe release.

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.

— Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi ItodoConveying the Bishop's reaction and call for prayers.

The diocese assured the faithful that efforts are being intensified to secure Mr. Ochai’s freedom and has committed him, along with other kidnapping victims in Nigeria, to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The seminarian was reported missing on the night of Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

The Bishop also assured the faithful that efforts are being intensified to secure Mr. Ochai’s freedom.

— Rev. Fr. Joseph Aboyi ItodoStating the diocese's commitment to securing the seminarian's release.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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