The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Philip Ekeli, and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, by armed assailants in Etsako East Local Government Area.
According to police reports, the clergyman and his assistant were kidnapped at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday from St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Ivukwa.
The incident has heightened concerns over rising insecurity in the region and sparked an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators.
Following the abduction, the Edo State Police Command, in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, swiftly launched a rescue operation to track down the kidnappers and recover the victims.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, stated that security forces engaged in a fierce operation that led to the neutralization of one suspected kidnapper and the arrest of four others.
“The combined efforts of the police, vigilantes, and local hunters resulted in the elimination of one suspect and the capture of four others. However, the kidnappers managed to escape with the Catholic priest and the seminarian,” Yamu revealed.
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The body of the slain suspect has since been deposited at the General Hospital in Agenebode, while investigations are ongoing to extract more information from the arrested individuals.
The police identified the arrested suspects as Murtala Ibrahim (32), Joshua Joseph (31), Sadiq Sheidu (35), and Sunday Bulus (28). Authorities also recovered the sum of ₦168,850 from one of the suspects, though the connection of the funds to the crime is yet to be fully ascertained.
Residents of Ivukwa and surrounding areas have been left in a state of distress following the abduction. A local resident, who spoke anonymously, described the incident as alarming and deeply unsettling.
“This is a peaceful community, and such an attack on a church has left us shaken. We can only pray that Father Ekeli and Peter Andrew return safely,” the resident stated.
Security forces remain on high alert as efforts to track the fleeing kidnappers continue. Authorities have assured the public that every possible measure is being taken to ensure the safe release of the priest and seminarian.
The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in Edo State and other parts of Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom have become a recurring challenge.
Religious leaders and community members have called on the government to intensify security measures and bring those responsible for such acts to justice.
As investigations continue, the police have urged the public to provide any useful information that could assist in rescuing the victims and apprehending the remaining kidnappers.