The growing number of attacks and kidnappings that target priests in Auchi and throughout Edo State has deeply alarmed Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi.
His comments came after Rev. Fr. Philip-Mario Ekweli, the parish priest of St. Peter’s Apostle Catholic Church in Etsako East Local Council, Iviukhua Agenebode, was kidnapped recently.
Bishop Dunia characterized the scenario as a terrible conversion of Edo North Senatorial District from a tranquil area into a violent hotspot in a statement released by the diocese’s spokesperson, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa. The statement bemoaned how frequently kidnappers enter the area and take victims hostage without any form of control.
Armed men assaulted the church grounds at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Monday night, capturing Ekweli and a seminarian named Peter Andrew.
According to reports, the assailants fired guns and broke down windows and doors as they pushed their way inside the rectory. No contact had been made with the kidnappers as of yesterday. The diocese urged everyone with good intentions to join the faithful in praying for the safe return of the seminarian and priest who had been kidnapped.
In the meantime, local hunters and vigilantes have joined forces with the Edo State Police Command to begin a rescue effort. CSP Moses Yamu, the command spokesperson, revealed that the police and attackers engaged in a gunfight, neutralizing one suspect, whose body has been taken to the General Hospital in Agenebode.
Items such as N168,850, a dagger jacket, and a bag filled with drinks and snacks were found on the suspect.
Four suspects were also taken into custody: Sunday Bulus, 28; Sadiq Sheidu, 35; Joshua Joseph, 31; and Murtala Ibrahim, 32. In order to guarantee the victims’ unconditional release and capture their kidnappers, CSP Yamu informed that more military personnel and anti-kidnapping teams had been sent to the region.
Political tension has also been triggered by the kidnappings, with the state administration and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Edo State exchanging accusations over the security situation. Through Chris Nehikhare, its publicity secretary, the PDP Caretaker Committee said that Edo State had turned into a hotbed of violent crime even though the government receives N750 million a month in security funding.
Nehikhare asserted that under Governor Monday Okpebholo, the state’s vigilante network had been undermined, which resulted in an increase in criminal activity. He pointed to the recent 12-day kidnapping of Prince Eniola Olajuni, National President of the Afenifere Youth Council, as proof of the worsening security situation.
Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo’s chief press secretary, responded by denouncing the PDP’s assertions as politically driven and without merit. He pointed out that the PDP had its own security issues during its time in office and accused the opposition of spreading false information to damage the administration’s image.
