Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode Abducted, N200 Million Ransom Demanded by Kidnappers in Edo State
The rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary under the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, has been kidnapped, with his captors reportedly demanding a ransom of N200 million for his release. The cleric was taken on Sunday evening while conducting mass, leading to widespread concern within the community.
Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, the Director of Communications for the diocese, confirmed the ransom request in a text message to journalists in Benin City, stating, “It is true.” According to an anonymous source, the kidnappers reached out to the diocese on Monday, laying out their demands for the release of the priest. As of the latest updates, negotiations had not yet begun, and it was uncertain whether the Catholic community would discuss the ransom.
During the abduction, it was reported that the assailants also attempted to take two seminarians. However, Rev. Fr. Oyode reportedly intervened, pleading with the kidnappers to let the students go in exchange for his own capture. Consequently, the gunmen released the two students and abducted the priest instead.
In a statement released on Monday, Rev. Fr. Egielewa indicated that the incident occurred at approximately 7 PM on Sunday, October 27, during evening prayers and Benediction attended by priests and seminarians of the Minor Seminary. Following the incident, the Vice Rector and all seminarians were accounted for and relocated to a safe area while security measures around the seminary were tightened. An official report was filed with law enforcement agencies, and the diocese has appealed for prayers from the public for the safe return of Fr. Oyode.
The seminary, founded by Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, the Catholic Bishop of Auchi, in 2006, has since trained over 500 future priests.
In response to the abduction, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has vowed to capture the gunmen responsible. This assurance came through the Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, following a visit by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 5, AIG Arungwa Nwazue, and the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Umoru Ozigi, to the site of the incident.
During their visit, they met with local leaders, including the Chairperson of Etsako East Local Government, Hon. Benedicta Attoh, and other community representatives, discussing strategies to enhance security in the area. AIG Nwazue, on behalf of the Inspector General, extended condolences to the seminary and the community, assuring them that police efforts would focus on ensuring the safe return of the abducted priest and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
In the immediate aftermath of the abduction, local hunters and vigilantes, along with soldiers from a nearby military base, commenced extensive search operations in the surrounding bushland to locate the abductors and secure Fr. Oyode’s release.
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