Police arrest two over kidnap of Catholic Priest in Edo

The Edo State Police Command said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction of Rev Fr Thomas Ayode, a Catholic Priest and Rector of Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School, Ivanokpodi, in Agenegbode, Etsako East local government Area.

DAILY POST reports that the Catholic Priest was abducted on Sunday at about 7pm at the Seminary School.

Oyode, was said to have told the abductors to take him in place of the two students of the institution they kidnapped.

It was gathered that the Kidnappers had made contact with the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, led by Bishiop Gabriel Dunia on Monday evening demanding for N200 million ransom.

The Commissioner of Police in the Command, Umoru Ozigi, who disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday while parading seven suspects arrested for various crimes in the state said, efforts are ongoing to rescue the Catholic Priest unhurt.

Ozigi also added that efforts are ongoing to arrest the other suspects.

According to him, the Command has responded to the unfortunate incident of the kidnap of Rev. Fr. Thomas Ayode from Diocesan Minor Seminary in Agenebode by rejigging the security architecture in the area in synergy with the Community through the deployment of a Unit of Police Mobile Force (PMF).

“Two suspects have been arrested in this regard,while efforts are ongoing to rescue the Reverend Father and apprehend others”, he said.

The commissioner who did not parade the two suspects said they are still at the Agenebode Divisional Headquarters.