Again, Gunmen Abduct Two Reverend Fathers In Edo

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Reverend Fathers Uboh Philemon of St. Joseph Retreat Centre and Rev. Fr. Udom Peter of Uromi Catholic Church, both of Ugbokha, Esan South East LGA, Edo State.

Naija News reports that the Catholic priest were abducted when returning to their parish after an event on Saturday.

According to reports, the clergymen were on their way from Benin, the Edo State capital, to Ugboha after attending the program when gunmen attacked them on the Benin-Auchi road between Ekhor and Iruekpen axis.

The Catholic priests were reportedly whisked into the bush by the gunmen.

The incident was confirmed by the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor.

He told Daily Trust that the police received information about the kidnap of the two reverend fathers through the divisional police officer of Ugboha, which was later corroborated by Rev. Father Emos Holiness of St Dominic Catholic Church of Mission Road, Ugbokha.

According to the police spokesperson, the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, had deployed a team of police operatives to begin a search for the kidnappers and to rescue the Reverend Fathers.

Naija News reports that the latest incident is coming a week after gunmen abducted and killed Reverend Father Christopher Odia in Edo State.

Odia, the priest in Charge of St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo community in Etsako West local government of Edo, was abducted and later shot dead last week.