Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State Police command has arrested two persons in connection with the abduction of the Rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode.
The state Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, disclosed this while parading seven other criminal suspects at the police command in Benin City.
He said efforts are being made to release the kidnapped Rev. Father and arrest other fleeing suspects.
Recall that Oyode was kidnapped on Sunday by gunmen when he went to the evening mass in the area.
During the attack, it was gathered that the gunmen took two students after sporadic shootings but that Rev Fr. Oyode pleaded with the kidnappers to free the students and instead kidnap him who is the Rector and custodian of the students.
The gunmen were said to have released the two students and took Oyode into custody.
Recall that Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, in a statement released on Monday said that the incident happened on Sunday, 27th October at about 7 pm when Priests and Seminarians of the Minor Seminary were attacked during their evening prayers and Benediction.
The statement said “In the process, the Rector of the institution, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, was abducted and led into the bush. However, the Vice Rector and all the Seminarians have been accounted for and are safe and temporarily relocated to a safe area until security measures around the Seminary are tightened. Unfortunately, no communication has been had with the abductors yet.
“An official report of the incident has been lodged with the Law Enforcement Agencies and we look forward to their assistance in securing the release of our abducted priest.
“The Catholic Diocese of Auchi requests all people of goodwill to join the faithful of the Diocese in prayers so that the abductors release Fr. Oyode unharmed”, the statement said.
The Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary was established by the Catholic Bishop of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, in 2006 for the training of future priests. Over 500 students have so far successfully graduated from the church institution.
On Tuesday, the Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, however confirmed the ransom demand in a terse text message to journalists in Benin City saying “It is true”.
A source who preferred anonymity , said: “The kidnappers on Monday evening contacted the Auchi Catholic Diocese and asked them to pay N200 million if they want them to release the kidnapped priest.
Briefing Journalists during the parade of some of the criminal suspects in Benin, the Commissioner of Police, in demonstration of their readiness to secure the release of the kidnapped Rev. Father, said that two of the suspects involved in the kidnapping operation have been apprehended and that they are helping the police with the useful information to arrest others at large.
CP Ozigi, while speaking on the recent cult killings in the state, said that the police are on top of the situation to bring it under control.
He warned those indulging in crime and criminality to turn a new leaf or leave the state because it will be too unbearable for them.
He further called on the members of the public to volunteer useful information that can lead to the arrest of criminals in the state noting that the police alone can’t do it thus the need for a collaboration.