The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the kidnap of Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and Seminarian Peter Andrew by suspected herders at St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa, Etsako East local government area of the state.
Spokesman of the Command, Moses Yamu, in a statement said that an unnamed suspect was neutralised, and the corpse deposited at the General Hospital in Agenebode.
Yamu also said that four suspects – Murtala Ibrahim, 32 years; Joshua Joseph, 31 years; Sadiq Sheidu, 35 years and 28-year-old Sunday Bulus were arrested in connection with the abductions.
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.”
Yamu added that 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 and the sum of N168,850 were recovered in the possession of the late suspect.
Yamu said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Betty Otimenyin has immediately detailed additional teams of the anti-kidnapping unit to join forces with Police Mobile Force personnel alongside their military counterparts to ensure unconditional release of the victims and apprehend their abductors.
