Priest offered himself as hostage in exchange for students
Armed men broke into a seminary school in Nigeria and took two students hostage. The rector of a seminary confronted the abductors and offered himself as a hostage in exchange for the students. The kidnappers took his offer, released the students, and took him instead.
Armed men attacked and broke into the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School in Agenegabode, in the local government area of Etsako East of Edo State, in southern Nigeria. The intruders carried out the attack on the evening of the 27th of October. According to multiple sources, the armed men entered the seminary and fired multiple shots in the air.
The men then proceeded to take two seminary students hostage and bring them out of the building. The rector of the minor seminary, Father Thomas Oyode, heard the gunshots and hurried out to the schoolyard. He caught up to the men taking the students, and confronted them. Father Thomas offered himself as a hostage on the condition that the intruders release the two students. The kidnappers accepted his offer releasing the students and taking Father Thomas with them and disappearing into the bushes.
The Diocese of Auchi released a statement confirming the attack and the kidnapping of the priest . The statement also announced that the vice-rector and all the students have been located and brought to safety until stricter security measures are taken around the minor seminary. The authorities are still searching for Father Thomas and his abductors.
Source: Agenzia Fides