Armed Men Kidnap Catholic Priest, Seminarian in Edo, Police confirm killing one, arrest of four 

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By Towncriernews

The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the kidnapping of Rev. Father Philip Ekweli and Seminarian Peter Andrew by suspected herders at St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa community, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

The command spokesman, Moses Yamu, in a statement, also said that one of the suspects whose name is unknown was neutralised, and the corpse deposited at the General Hospital Agenebode. 

Yamu also said that four suspects; Murtala Ibrahim, 32 years, Joshua Joseph, 31 years, Sadiq Sheidu 35 years, and Sunday Bulus 28 years were arrested.

He said, “On 03/03/2025  at about 23:30 hours, 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 Ekweli 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 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. 

“Furthermore, the following suspects; Murtala Ibrahim, 32 years, Joshua Joseph, 31 years, Sadiq Sheidu 35 years, and Sunday Bulus 28 years were arrested.”

Yamu noted that the Commissioner of Police, Betty 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.

Narrating the incident in a communique signed by the Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, disclosed that the victims were abducted on Monday, at St.Peter Catholic Church Rectory at about 9:30 pm.

He said at about that time, the gunmen violently pulled the doors and windows of the rectory shooting sporadically

“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 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 at 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 statement concluded.

Caption: Kidnapped Rev. Father Phillip Ekweli