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A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Michael Abang Obi, narrowly escaped death after his car exploded while he was attempting to assist local women in his Diocese on New Year’s Eve.
Gists9ja understands that the incident occurred as the priest returned from officiating at a wedding and stopped to offer guidance to a group of women in his parish.
Eyewitnesses report that the vehicle was completely destroyed in the blast, but Reverend Father Obi was fortunate to have escaped unharmed. He serves as the administrator of St. Joseph de Worker Parish in Bansara and holds the position of Vicar for Priests in the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, located in Cross River State.
A Close Call for the Long-Serving Vicar
Father Obi, who has been a priest for many years and is the longest-serving vicar in the Diocese—having coordinated fellow priests for 25 years—shared the details of his harrowing experience. He explained that after attending a wedding ceremony at a nearby parish, he was on his way back to his parish when he spotted a Reverend Sister and her group of women collecting firewood in the school compound.
“I stopped the car and branched off to show them the proper direction to find better firewood,” Father Obi said. “As I got back into the car and was preparing to leave, there was a sudden explosion. Fortunately, the door was open, and I was able to escape. I am saved. Thanks be to God!”
The priest expressed his gratitude, attributing his survival to divine intervention. “This happened yesterday. What else do we say than to return all glory to God the Father, Almighty!” he added.
Confirmation of the Explosion
Another senior priest from the Ogoja Diocese, Sir Nandi Bette, confirmed the explosion, further attesting to the shocking nature of the incident. The Diocese, which has seen Father Obi serve faithfully for a quarter of a century, is now celebrating the priest’s miraculous survival and the continued safety of one of its longest-serving clergy members.
English (US)