Two Catholic Priests Abducted By Gunmen

Two Catholic priests, named as Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of the St. Joseph retreat centre in Ugboha in the Esan South East local government area of Edo State and Rev. Father Peter Udo of St. Patrick’s Catholic church Uromi in Esan North East, have been kidnapped by gunmen.

On July 2, the priests were abducted on the Benin-Ekpoma Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen.

It was learned that the two priests were returning to their headquarters after attending a program in Benin City when their car collided with the gunmen.

The vehicle was reportedly forced to stop when the gunmen fired several bullets into the air and dragged the priests into the bush.

On Sunday, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, the State Police Command’s spokesperson, confirmed the development in a statement.

The statement read, “This is to confirm the kidnap of two Catholic Rev. Fathers; Rev. Fr. Udo Peter of St. Patrick Catholic Church Uromi and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha in Esan South East LGA of Edo State.

“The Edo State Police Command was informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer, Ugboha, Edo State, that on Sunday, July 3, 2022, one Rev. Father Amos Abhulimen of St. Dominic Catholic Church Ugboha, reported that he was informed by the Catholic authority via WhatsApp that the above named Catholic Rev. Fathers were attacked, kidnapped and taken to an unknown place by some kidnappers along Benin-Auchi Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen Communities

“Immediately, the Commissioner Of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, dispatched policemen to the area to carry out aggressive and well-coordinated manhunt in arresting the kidnappers as well as rescue the Rev. Fathers unhurt.”