By Jethro Ibileke

Gunmen have abducted another two Catholic Priests at Uromi, Esan North East and Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Areas of Edo State.

This is coming exactly seven days after the priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo, Etsako West Local Government of Edo State, Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, was abducted and killed by kidnappers.

The current victims are: Rev. Father Peter Udo of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi, Esan North East, and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Area, both in Edo Central senatorial district of the state.

They were allegedly kidnapped on Saturday, 2 July, 2022, between Ehor and Iruekpen, along the Benin– Ekpoma Express Way, while on their way to Uromi from Benin city, the state capital, where they attended a programme.

They were returning to their base when they ran into the gunmen who violently intercepted their car.

The suspected gunmen were said to have fired several gun shots into the air which forced the car that had the two Catholic priests to stop.

The two priests were reportedly forced into the bush by the gunmen and as at the time of filing this report, the kidnappers were yet to demand for ransom.

The State Police Command spokesman, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident.

He said: “The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugboha Police Division has called to inform that one Rev. Father Amos Abhulimen on Saturday came to the station to report the kidnap of the two Reverend Fathers.

“Based on the report, the State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has dispatched a team of policemen as a reinforcement to the men of Ugboha division to go for the rescue of the two Catholic priests unhurt and get the kidnappers arrested.”