The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli and Seminarian Peter Andrew by armed men suspected to be herdsmen. The incident took place at St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa community, Etsako East Local Government Area.
In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, noted that security operatives responded swiftly to a distress call and confronted the attackers. During the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed, while four others were arrested.
Yamu stated, “On March 3, 2025, at about 11:30 pm, the command received a distress call from a concerned citizen that armed men, suspected to be herdsmen, stormed St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa, Etsako East LGA, and abducted Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli and Seminarian Peter Andrew.”
The police, along with local vigilantes and hunters, engaged the kidnappers, leading to the death of one suspect. The suspect’s body was later deposited at the General Hospital in Agenebode.
Recovered items from the deceased suspect included two pairs of rubber shoes, a button phone with two SIM cards, a power bank, a dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafé beverage, and N168,850 in cash.
The arrested suspects were identified as Murtala Ibrahim (32), Joshua Joseph (31), Sadiq Sheidu (35), and Sunday Bulus (28). Authorities are continuing efforts to secure the release of the victims.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, has deployed additional anti-kidnapping operatives and Police Mobile Force personnel to work with the military to locate the abducted priest and seminarian.
Reacting to the incident, the Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, expressed concern over the increasing attacks on Catholic priests. Through a statement issued by the diocese’s Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, the bishop described the worsening security situation in Edo North as alarming.
“The Diocese of Auchi announces with sadness that at about 9:30 pm on Monday, March 3, 2025, gunmen violently attacked the rectory and church of St. Peter Catholic Church, Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East LGA,” the statement read.
He further revealed that the attackers, heavily armed, broke doors and windows before taking the priest and seminarian into the nearby forest. Local vigilantes attempted to stop them but were overpowered due to the kidnappers’ superior firepower.
