Our reporter
The town of Iviukhua in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State is in distress following the abduction of a Catholic priest and a seminarian by unidentified gunmen.
Rev. Fr. Philip-Mario Ekweli, the Parish Priest of St. Peter’s The Apostle Catholic Church, and Bro. Peter Andrew, a seminarian, were seized late on Monday night when assailants stormed the church premises. The attack, which occurred around 10:30 pm, has left residents in a state of fear and anxiety.
As of Tuesday morning, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and there has been no word from the kidnappers regarding their demands. Local authorities and security forces have launched an investigation and are actively working to secure the release of the victims.
The abduction has ignited widespread concern among the Christian community and beyond, with many decrying the worsening security situation in the community. Members of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, to which the parish belongs, have intensified prayers for the safe return of the clergymen, while community leaders have called for urgent intervention by security agencies.
In a statement, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Joel Yamu explained that, one of the suspected gunmen was neutralised while four others arrested in connection with the incident: “On 03/03/2025 at about 2330hrs, the Command received a distress call from a concerned citizen that armed men suspected to be herdsmen stormed St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa community, Etsako East LGA, abducting Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and Seminarian Peter Andrew.
“The Police initiated a rescue operation involving the ” Operation Rescue ” teams, vigilantes, and hunters and swiftly rushed to the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel. One of the suspects whose name is unknown was neutralised, and the corpse deposited at the General Hospital Agenebode.
“Two (2) pairs of rubber shoes, one button Tecno phone with 2 sim cards, One (1) power bank, one dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafè beverage, the sum of one hundred and sixty-eight Thousand, eight hundred and fifty naira (168,850) were recovered in his possession.
“Furthermore, the following suspects; Murtala Ibrahim, 32yrs, Joshua Joseph, 31yrs, Sadiq Sheidu 35yrs, and Sunday Bulus 28yrs were arrested.”
He further stated that, the Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, has immediately detailed additional teams of the anti-kidnapping unit to join forces with Police Mobile Force personnel alongside their military counter parts in that area, to ensure the unconditional release of the victims and apprehend their abductors.
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