By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday March 4, 2025 said Operatives have been deployed to track down the abductors of a Catholic Priest, Philip Ekeli.
This is just as they announced the arrest of four members of the criminal gang behind the kidnap.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Moses Yamu the Command informed that the Catholic Priest, alongside a Seminarian, were on Monday, March 3, abducted from their Church, St Peter Catholic Church in Iviukwa area of Etsako East Local Government Area of the State.
The Command noted that following the receipt of the report of the incident, it swiftly mobilized operatives to rescue the victims.
The kidnappers were said to have taken their victims to a nearby bush l.
The operatives drawn from the Rapid Response Squad RRS confronted the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel.
According to the Police statement, one of the kidnappers was killed ,while four were apprehended by the operatives .
” On 03/03/2025 at about 23:30hrs ,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 Ekeli and Seminarian Peter Andrew.
The Police initiated 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 neutralized ,and the corpse deposited at the General Hospital Agenebode .
“Items recovered from them were two pairs of rubber shoes ,one button Techno Phone with two Sim cards ,one power bank, one dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafe beverage, and N168,850.
The Commissioner of Police, C , Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin has immediately detailed additional teams of the Anti-Kidapping Unit to join forces with Police Mobile Force personnel alongside their military counterparts in that area to ensure the unconditional release of the victims ,and apprehend their abductors”, part of the statement reads .
The Command reassured of its commitment towards securing lives and properties of law abiding citizens of the State .
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