Last week four Roman Catholic priests were kidnapped by armed gunmen in the Delta State of Nigeria. On Friday, November 9^th four days after they were kidnapped they were freed.

The police commissioner, Muhammad Mustafa said, “They were rescued on Friday, Nov. 9 and we are on the trail of the other suspects. We do not encourage ransom, so no ransom was paid.” Once freed the clergymen were taken to Benin City for medical treatment.

The four clergy men abducted were Rev Fr. Victor Adigboluja of the Ijebu Ode Diocese; Anthony Otegbola, Abeokuta Diocese; Joseph Ediae, Benin Archdiocese; and Emmanuel Obadjere, Warri Diocese.

The four priests were coming home from a class and heading to an event when the gunmen reportedly abused them, spraying their vehicles with bullets, and kidnapping them.

Nigerian officials are condemning the kidnapping and Benue State Gov. Samuel Ortom said that the abduction was “barbaric, dehumanizing, and shameful.”