Mbaka reappears, as protesters vandalise Bishop’s residence

Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka, on Wednesday afternoon, showed up in Enugu, hours after an alarm was raised on his whereabouts.

In a live video update on Wednesday afternoon by BBC Pidgin, Mbaka was seen in a car with an open roof waving to excited Enugu residents.

He is expected to address a press conference soon.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide had claimed earlier in the day that Mbaka’s whereabouts could not be ascertained.

“We are giving the Federal Government 48 hours to produce the priest, else they should be ready to face Igbo youths. They were dining and wining with him all along and now that he told the truth, they are no longer comfortable with him,” the group said in a statement.

“Let nothing happen to Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It will not be in anybody’s interest.”

Mbaka’s followers also gathered at the residence of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga.

According to the protesters, Mbaka had not been seen since he said he was going to the bishop’s house on Tuesday.

A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, who has been critical of the priest, even tweeted that Mbaka could have been arrested.

“Reverend Father Mbaka has very strong honesty issues that he has to resolve with His Maker. However, I am against any arrest or attempt to infringe on his freedom by the @MBuhari regime. Reports of his arrest by unknown gunmen, if true, are condemned. #FreeMbakaNow!!!” he wrote.

But the Department of State Services said it did not arrest Mbaka.
“He (Mbaka) is not with the DSS, please,” DSS spokesman Peter Afunnaya said.
Before Mbaka’s appearance, Enugu residents carried out a protest to the residence of Onaga.

The protesters alleged that Fr Mbaka was arrested by security agents on Tuesday.

The mob protested based on unconfirmed report that the security agents first visited Bishop Onaga who called Mbaka on the phone and he was whisked away.

The protesters (Adorers) who arrived for the Wednesday ‘E no dey’ programme at the Adoration Ground, Umuchigbo, Nike, Enugu, were shocked by Mbaka’s absence leading to a protest to the Bishop’s residence.

Parts of the bishop’s house were destroyed by the protesters who demanded for Mbaka’s release.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, also raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the Spiritual Director.

The President-General of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, in a statement on Wednesday said Mbaka was last seen on Tuesday and that efforts to locate him had failed.

“We have it on good authority that his aides have neither seen nor heard from him since Tuesday.

“Calls put to his mobile line have also remained unanswered; this has now prompted us to issue this alarm as we would not take it lightly should anything untoward happens to him.

“We are giving the Federal Government 48 hours to produce the priest, else they should be ready to face Igbo youths. They were dining and wining with him all along and now that he told the truth, they are no longer comfortable with him.

“Let nothing happen to Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It will not be in anybody’s interest,” the group said.