Gunmen, believed to be Fulani militia, have kidnapped a Catholic priest and a seminarian from St. Peter Catholic Church in Iviukwa Community, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Police said the incident occurred around 11:30 pm on Sunday, March 2, and identified the victims as Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and seminarian Peter Andrew. They were abducted and taken into the bush.
“The police received a distress call from the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mr. Inaede Gabriel, informing them that the church was under siege,” police said.
Local vigilantes engaged the gunmen during the attack, killing one assailant. His body was taken to the General Hospital Mortuary in Aghenebode. Items recovered from the scene included a button phone, SIM cards, a power bank, a dagger jacket, biscuits, Nescafé sachets, rubber shoes, and ₦168,850 in cash.
A joint search-and-rescue operation involving the Nigerian Army’s 195 Battalion, police, vigilantes, and local hunters is ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend the abductors.
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