Unknown gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests identified as Rev. Father Peter Udo of St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Uromi in Esan North East and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St Joseph Retreat Center in Ugboha in Esan South East local government area of Edo State.
It was gathered that on Saturday, July 2 the priests were kidnapped between Ehor and Iruekpen along the Benin-Ekpoma Expressway.
According to the reports, the two priests had attended a program in Benin city and were returning to base when their vehicle ran into the gunmen.
The gunmen were said to have fired several gunshots into the air which forced the car to stop. The priests were forced into the bush.
SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, the spokesperson of the State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, July 3.
The statement read,”This is to confirm the kidnap of two Catholic Rev. Fathers; Rev. Fr. Udo Peter of St. Patrick Catholic Church Uromi and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha in Esan South East LGA of Edo State,”
“The Edo State Police Command was informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer, Ugboha, Edo State, that on Sunday, July 3, 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 an unknown place by some kidnappers along Benin-Auchi Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen Communities.
“Immediately, the Commissioner Of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, dispatched policemen to the area to carry out an aggressive and well-coordinated manhunt in arresting the kidnappers as well as rescue the Rev. Fathers unhurt,”
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