The Catholic Diocese of Auchi has been thrown into a state of tension as gunmen abduct the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Reverend Father Thomas Oyode, News About Nigeria reports.
The Director of Communications of the diocese, Reverend Father Peter Egielewa, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
He said that the priest was abducted on Sunday evening, disclosing that the priests and seminarians of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi, were observing their evening prayers and benediction on Sunday evening when they were attacked by gunmen around 7 p.m.
According to him, the gunmen abducted Oyode and led him into the bush, and his whereabouts have remained unknown.
Egielewa stated that the vice-rector and all the seminarians have been accounted for and have been relocated for safety purposes.
The diocese said it has, however, not had any communication with the abductors of Father Oyode.
He said, “The priests and seminarians of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi, were observing their evening prayers and benediction on Sunday evening when they were attacked by gunmen around 7 PM.”
He further stated that the diocese has lodged an official report, seeking the assistance of law enforcement agencies in securing the release of the priest.
Egielewa appealed to the federal government to deploy its security agents in facilitating the rescue of the priest.
The diocese also disclosed that the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, established by the catholic bishop of Auchi, most reverend Gabriel Dunia, in 2006 for the training of future priests, has turned out more than 500 graduates over the years.
