Two Catholic priests have been kidnapped by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Benin, Edo State.
This is coming less than a week after Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia was murdered by suspected herdsmen, at Ikabigbo, in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the priests, identified as Rev. Fathers Udo Peter of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Uromi and Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha, of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi, were travelling from Benin to Uromi when they were abducted along the Benin-Auchi road, on Saturday.
Confirming the development, the Edo State Police Command in a statement on Sunday, by its spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the state Police commissioner, CP Abutu Yaro has dispatched police operatives to the area.
He said this is to ensure the safe release of the abducted priests and the arrest of the perpetrators of the act.
“This is to confirm the kidnap incident of two Catholic Reverend Fathers, Rev. Fr. Udo Peter of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Uromi and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha, in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
“The Edo State Police Command was informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer, Ugboha, Edo State, that on Sunday, 03/07/2022, one Rev. Father Amos Abhulimen of St. Dominic Catholic Church Ugboha reported that he was informed by the Catholic authority, via WhatsApp, that the above named Catholic Rev. Fathers were attacked, kidnapped and taken to unknown places by some kidnappers, along Benin-Auchi expressway, between Ehor and Iruekpen communities.
“Immediately, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Abutu Yaro, dispatched police operatives to the area and warned to carry out aggressive and well-coordinated manhunt in arresting the kidnappers and for the rescuing of the Rev. Fathers unhurt. The CP solicits the cooperation of the general public in giving information to the police and other sister security agencies in policing Edo State,” the statement added.
