By Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and Seminarian Peter Andrew by suspected herders at St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa, Etsako East Local Government Area. The incident has sparked fresh concerns over security in rural communities.
According to the Command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, the attack happened late on Monday night, around 11:30 p.m., when armed men stormed the church premises and forcefully took the two victims away. A distress call from a concerned resident alerted police to the crime.
During an immediate search and rescue operation, officers encountered and neutralized one of the suspects, whose body has been deposited at the General Hospital in Agenebode for identification and further investigation.
Yamu also revealed that four other suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction. The arrested men were identified as Murtala Ibrahim (32), Joshua Joseph (31), Sadiq Sheidu (35), and Sunday Bulus (28).
“The Command is fully committed to ensuring the safe return of the victims and will not relent until all suspects involved are brought to justice,” Yamu said, assuring the public of ongoing efforts to track down the remaining kidnappers.
Residents have been urged to remain calm but vigilant, while local security agencies intensify patrols in the area to prevent further attacks and reassure the community of their safety.
