A seminarian, Peter Andrew and a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Philip Ekeli, have been kidnapped by gunmen from St. Peter Catholic Church in Iviukwa Community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Security expert Zagazola Makama confirmed the abduction on Tuesday, citing police sources.
The attack occurred late Sunday night around 11:30 p.m.
“The police got a distress call from the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mr. Inaede Gabriel, that the church was under attack,” a police source revealed.
In response, officers, including the Rapid Response Squad, rushed to the scene, only to confirm that the priest and seminarian had been taken into the bush by their captors.
During the assault, local vigilantes engaged the gunmen in a confrontation, resulting in the death of one of the attackers.
His remains have since been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary in Aghenebode.
Authorities recovered several items from the crime scene, including a button phone with two Airtel SIM cards, a power bank, a jacket, a bag containing biscuits and sachets of Nescafé tea, two pairs of rubber shoes, and ₦168,850 in cash.
A coordinated search-and-rescue operation is currently underway, involving soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 195 Battalion, police operatives, vigilantes, and local hunters, all working to locate the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
