In the evening of March 2, a group of armed men perpetrated the grounds of the Catholic Church of St. Peter in the parish of Iviukwa, Etsako East district, Edo State, Nigeria. They managed to take hostage Father Philip Ekeli, a priest, and Peter Andrew, a seminarian. During the kidnapping, a firefight broke out between the kidnappers and the security guard of the church, in which one of the abductors lost his life.

Even though the kidnapping was disturbed by the guards, despite their best efforts, the priest and the seminarian were taken away. The local police confirmed the incident and announced the start of a joint rescue mission involving members of the Nigerian army, the police force, and local hunters. The search for Father Philip and Peter Andrew is still ongoing; their whereabouts and conditions are unknown.

In the meantime, Father Matthew David Dutsemi of the Diocese of Yola and Father Abraham Saummam of the Diocese of Jalingo, who were kidnapped on February 22, are still in the hands of their captors.

Source: Agenzia Fides