In a statement, command spokesman Moses Yamu confirmed that four suspects—Murtala Ibrahim, 32; Joshua Joseph, 31; Sadiq Sheidu, 35; and Sunday Bulus, 28—were arrested after suspected herders abducted Rev. Father Philip Ekweli and Seminarian Peter Andrew from the St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa community, Etsako East Local Government Area, of the state on Monday.
Yamu also said that one of the suspects, whose name is unknown, was neutralized and the body was placed at the General Hospital, Agenebode.
He said, “On 03/03/2025 at about 23:30 hours, 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 a 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 neutralised, and the corpse deposited at the General Hospital, Agenebode.”
“Two pairs of rubber shoes, one button Tecno phone with two SIM cards, one power bank, one dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafè beverage, the sum of N168,850 were recovered in his possession.”
“Furthermore, the following suspects; Murtala Ibrahim, 32 years, Joshua Joseph, 31 years, Sadiq Sheidu 35 years, and Sunday Bulus 28 years were arrested.”
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, the Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, bemoaned the frequent attacks and kidnappings of priests and urged the government to address the security challenge in Edo North.
Yamu observed that Commissioner of Police Betty Otimenyin immediately detailed additional teams of the anti-kidnapping unit to work with the Police Mobile Force personnel and their military counterparts in that region to guarantee the unconditional release of the victims and capture their kidnappers.
The statement read, “The Bishop of the Auchi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, has expressed sadness at the frequency at which priests in his diocese are attacked and kidnapped and that the once peaceful Edo North, which houses the Diocese of Auchi, has become a field of the absurd where kidnappers come in at will and at regular intervals and kidnap people for ransom.”
“It has become a business centre for kidnappers; we are calling on the government to address these persistent security challenges in Edo North and other parts of Edo State.”
He continued, “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi announces that at about 9.30 pm on Monday, March 3, 2025, the Priest’s rectory and church of St Peter Catholic Church, Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East LGA of Edo State, were violently attacked by gunmen.”
“Doors and windows in both the rectory and church were pulled down accompanied by gunshots. The local vigilantes engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel. However, due to the superior weapons in possession of the kidnappers, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli, was unfortunately taken away along with the major seminarian serving in the parish into the surrounding forests.”
“At this time, no communication has been had with the abductors yet.”
He requested of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi for all people of goodwill to join the faithful in prayers so that the abductors would release Fr Ekweli unharmed.
