Suspected armed Fulani attackers have kidnapped Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, from St. Peter Catholic Church in Iviukwa Community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Police sources confirmed on Tuesday that the abduction took place late Sunday night around 11:30 p.m.
According to the sources, the police received an emergency call from the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mr. Inaede Gabriel, alerting them that the church was under attack.
Security operatives, including members of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), were swiftly deployed to the scene, where they confirmed that the priest and seminarian had been taken into the bush by the assailants.
During the attack, local vigilantes engaged the gunmen in a shootout, killing one of the attackers.
His body has been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary in Aghenebode.
Recovered items from the scene included a button phone with two Airtel SIM cards, a power bank, a dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafé sachets, two pairs of rubber shoes, and a small bag with ₦168,850 in cash.
A coordinated search-and-rescue operation is underway, involving personnel from the Nigerian Army’s 195 Battalion, police operatives, vigilantes, and local hunters, in a bid to locate the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.