Catholic Diocese Worried Over Abducted Priest

The Catholic Diocese of Auchi on Tuesday expressed worry over the continuous kidnap of catholic priests in Edo North Senatorial District, where the diocese superintends, noting that the district has now become a business Centre for kidnappers.

The position of the Church was contained in a press release signed by its Director of Communication, Rev. Fr. Peter  Egielewa while announcing the kidnap of a catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli and a seminarian, Peter Andrew, at the St. Peter Catholic Church, Ivukwa, Etsako East local government area.

The statement said “The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr Gabriel Dunia, expresses sadness at the frequency at which priests in his Diocese are attacked and kidnapped and that the once peaceful Edo North of the State, which houses the Diocese of Auchi, has become a field of the absurd where kidnappers come in at will and regular intervals and kidnap people for ransom. It has become a business centre for kidnappers, calling on the Government to address these persistent security challenges in Edo North and other parts of Edo State.

“The Catholic Diocese of Auchi, inaugurated on 22nd February 2003, only recently celebrated the twenty-second anniversary of its inauguration, but in the last 5 years, over 8 of her priests have been kidnapped, with one brutally murdered in 2022.

“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 Ekweli unharmed.”

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On how the kidnapping was carried out, the statement read that “at about 9.30 pm on Monday 3rd of March 2025, the Priest’s rectory and church of St Peter Catholic Church, Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East LGA of Edo State, was 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.”