The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Philip Ekeli, and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, from St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ivukwa, in Etsako East Local Government Area.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, the incident occurred on March 3 at around 11:30 p.m.
Security operatives, including local vigilantes and hunters, swiftly launched a rescue operation.
During the intervention, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, and four others were apprehended. However, the remaining abductors managed to escape with the victims.
The deceased suspect’s body has been deposited at the General Hospital, Agenebode.
Items recovered from the suspect include two pairs of rubber shoes, a button Tecno phone with two SIM cards, a power bank, a dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafé, and a sum of N168,850.
Following the incident, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimeyin, deployed additional teams from the anti-kidnapping unit, the Police Mobile Force, and military personnel to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the remaining culprits.
Reacting to the development, the Catholic Diocese of Auchi expressed deep concern over the frequent kidnappings of priests in Edo North Senatorial District.
In a statement signed by its Director of Communication, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, the diocese lamented the deteriorating security situation, describing the area as a hotspot for kidnappers who now operate freely and at regular intervals.
Bishop Gabriel Dunia of the Diocese of Auchi called on the government to take urgent steps to address the worsening insecurity in Edo North and other parts of the state.
He also urged the faithful and well-meaning individuals to pray for the safe release of Fr. Ekeli and the seminarian.
Providing further details, the diocese revealed that the attack took place at about 9:30 p.m. on March 3, when gunmen stormed St. Peter Catholic Church in Iviukhua-Agenebode.
The assailants forcefully broke into the rectory and church, firing gunshots as they went.
Local vigilantes engaged them in a gunfight, but the kidnappers, armed with superior weapons, overpowered them and took the priest and seminarian into the surrounding forest. As of now, no contact has been made with the abductors.