By Dorothy Okereke
A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Lawrence Nwankwo, has narrated how he narrowly escaped death after gunmen attempted to abduct him during an attack at Ekwulobia roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Reverend Father Nwankwo, who is the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia, shared the experience during a Thanksgiving Mass in his Igweakpu village, Ndiowu, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
The priest said the incident occurred in July 2025 while he was on his way to Awka and stopped at a traffic light around 7:30 in the morning, when masked gunmen stormed the area and opened fire from different directions.
According to him, the attack lasted for about forty-eight minutes, during which several people were caught in the crossfire.
Reverend Father Nwankwo said one of the gunmen forced him out of his vehicle, collected the car key and ordered him into the trunk of the car, with the intention of abducting him.
He explained that while he was trapped inside the trunk, the gunmen continued shooting, repeatedly calling for fresh magazines, until the arrival of a Joint Intervention Force, which engaged the attackers and forced them to retreat.
The priest said he was struck by a bullet on his toe during the attack, adding that his vehicle was hit by nineteen bullets, including the spare tyre beneath the trunk where he was hiding.
Reverend Father Nwankwo attributed his survival to divine intervention, describing the incident as a testimony of God’s protection.
He commended the security operatives for their timely intervention, noting that their action prevented him from being taken to a kidnapper’s den.
The priest said he later emerged from the trunk after the gunfire subsided and contacted his colleagues to inform them that he was alive.
He explained that the Thanksgiving Mass was organised to appreciate God for sparing his life and to rejoice with members of the community.
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