Police arrest two suspects over kidnap of Catholic priest in Edo

The Edo State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the kidnapping of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode.

Fr. Oyode, the Rector of Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area was abducted by gunmen during their evening prayers and Benediction on Sunday. 

It was gathered that the priest asked the gunmen to take him in place of two students of the monastery they had kidnapped. 

The kidnappers contacted the diocese and demanded N200m ransom for his release. 

The State Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Umoru Ozigi, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Police Headquarters on Wednesday in Benin City. 

Briefing journalists on the command’s achievements under his watch, CP Ozigi, said that following the incident, the command promptly rejiggered the security architecture in the area in synergy with the community through the deployment of a Unit of Police Mobile Force. 

“Two suspects have been arrested in this regard, while efforts are ongoing to rescue the Revered Father and apprehend others,” the CP stated.