By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria – Operatives of the Edo Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers and neutralised one Estako local government area of the state.
The Command’s spokesman, CSP Moses Joel Yamu, while confirming the report said, “On 03/03/2025 at about 2330hrs, the Command received a distress call from a concerned citizen that armed men suspected to be herdsmen stormed St. Peter Catholic Church in Ivukwa community, Etsako East LGA, abducting Rev. Father Philip Ekeli and Seminarian Peter Andrew.
“The Police initiated a rescue operation involving the “Operation Rescue” teams, vigilantes, and hunters and swiftly rushed to the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel. One of the suspects whose name is unknown was neutralised, and the corpse deposited at the General Hospital Agenebode.
“Two (2) pairs of rubber shoes, one button Tecno phone with 2 sim cards, One (1) power bank, one dagger jacket, a bag containing biscuits and Nescafè beverage, the sum of one hundred and sixty-eight Thousand, eight hundred and fifty naira (168,850) were recovered in his possession.
“Furthermore, the following suspects; Murtala Ibrahim, 32yrs, Joshua Joseph, 31yrs, Sadiq Sheidu 35yrs, and Sunday Bulus 28yrs were arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, psc, mnips has immediately detailed additional teams of the anti kidnapping unit to join forces with Police Mobile Force personnel alongside thier military counter parts in that area, to ensure the unconditional release of the victims and apprehend their abductors”.
