Less than one week after Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia of St. Michael Catholic church Ikabigbo in Etsako West local government area of Edo state was kidnapped and killed by his abductors, another two Catholic Priests have kidnapped by gunmen along the Benin/Ekpoma road in the State.
Daily Independent gave the names of the two Catholic Priests as Rev. Father Peter Udo of St Patrick’s Catholic Church Uromi in Esan North East local government area and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St Joseph Retreat Center Ugboha in Esan South East local government area of Edo state.
The two Catholic priests were said to have been kidnapped between Ehor and Iruekpen along the Benin- Ekpoma Express Way on their way to Uromi from Benin city, the Edo state capital.
According to the report, the two clergymen had attended a programme in Benin city on Saturday, July 2, 2022 and were returning to base when their vehicle rammed into some unknown gunmen who violently intercepted their car.
The suspected gun men had first fired several gun shots into the air which forced the car that had the two Catholic priests to stop.
The two priests were allegedly forced into the bush by the vicious gun men and as at press time , the said kidnappers were yet to call for ransom.
Confirming the report, Edo state police command spokesman, Chidi Nwanbuzor said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugboha police Division has called to inform him that one Rev Father Amos Abhulimen on Saturday came to the station to report the kidnap of the two Rev Fathers.
Nwanbuzor said based on the report, the state Commissioner of Police Abutu Yaro, has dispatched a team of policemen as a reinforcement to the men of Ugboha division to go for the rescue of the two Catholic Priests unhurt and get the kidnappers arrested.
Recalled that a Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Christopher Odia who was kidnapped by gunmen in the early hours of last week Sunday at Ikabigbo community in Etsako West local government of Edo state was killed by his abductors.
Rev Father Odia who is the parish priest of St Michael Catholic church, lkabigbo was kidnapped in his rectory while coming out to officiate the early morning Sunday mass
