Edo North Now Business Centre For Kidnappers, Catholic Church Decries Abduction Of Priests

The Catholic Diocese of Auchi has expressed worry over the rising kidnapping of Catholic priests in Edo North Senatorial District, where the diocese superintends.

A statement by its Director of Communication, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa late Tuesday, lamented that the senatorial distinct has become a business centre for kidnappers.

The statement which was released following the kidnap of a Catholic priest identified as Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ivukwa, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, called on the government to urgently address the persistent security challenges in the area.

“The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia expresses sadness at the frequency at which priests in his Diocese are attacked and kidnapped and that the once peaceful Edo North of the state, which houses the Diocese of Auchi, has become a field of the absurd where kidnappers come in at will and regular intervals and kidnap people for ransom.

“It has become a business centre for kidnappers, calling on the government to address these persistent security challenges in Edo North and other parts of Edo State.

“The Catholic Diocese of Auchi requests all people of goodwill to join the faithful of the Diocese in prayers so that the abductors release Fr. Ekweli unharmed,” the statement said.

Speaking on how the kidnapping was carried out, Egielewa said the church was attacked by gunmen who after engaging in a gun battle with the local vigilante, kidnapped the priest and a seminarian.

“At about 9.30 pm on Monday 3rd of March 2025, the Priest’s rectory and church of St Peter Catholic Church, Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East LGA of Edo State, was violently attacked by gunmen. Doors and windows in both the rectory and church were pulled down accompanied by gunshots. The local vigilantes engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel.

“However, due to the superior weapons in possession of the kidnappers, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli was unfortunately taken away along with the major seminarian serving in the parish into the surrounding forests. At this time, no communication has been had with the abductors yet,” the statement said.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, stated that the police initiated a rescue operation with the vigilantes in the area, including hunters who rushed to the scene.

The statement added that one of the suspected kidnappers was killed while four suspects were arrested but other fleeing kidnappers escaped with their victims while the body of the dead kidnapper was deposited at the General Hospital, Agenebode.

“Two pairs of rubber shoes, one button Tecno phone with two sim cards, one power bank, one dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafè beverage, the sum of N168,850 were recovered in his possession,” it said.

The statement noted that the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimeyin, has deployed additional anti-kidnapping teams to collaborate with Police Mobile Force personnel and military units in the area to secure the unconditional release of the kidnapped victims and bring their abductors to justice.

Edo North Now Business Centre For Kidnappers, Catholic Church Decries Abduction Of Priests is first published on The Whistler Newspaper