Priests and seminarians of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi, Agenebode, Edo State, were holding prayers on Sunday evening when some gunmen attacked them.

Thomas Oyode, a reverend father and the rector of the seminary, was abducted and has not been released two days later.

According to The Punch, the kidnappers are demanding a N200 million ransom to release the abducted priest.

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FIJ understands that in the Catholic church, a minor seminary is a secondary-level school for ordinary students getting a religious education.

After the gunmen kidnapped Reverend Father Oyede, they led him away through the bush.

The statement by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi

“In the process, the Rector of the institution, Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, was abducted and led into the bush,” Catholic Diocese of Auchi said in a statement.

“However, the vice rector and all the seminarians have been accounted for and are safe and temporarily relocated to a safe area until security measures around the seminary are tightened.

“Unfortunately, no communication has been had with the abductors yet an official report of the incident has been lodged with the Law enforcement agencies and we look forward to their assistance in securing the release of our abducted priest.”

Reverend Father Thomas Oyode.

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The Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary was established by the Catholic Bishop of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, in 2006 for the training of future priests. Over 500 students have so far successfully graduated from the church institution.

The Catholic Diocese of Auchi asked “all people of goodwill to join the faithful of the Diocese in prayers so that the abductors release Fr Oyode unharmed”.

FIJ called Reverend Father Peter Egielewa, the director of communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, on Tuesday, but the calls were unanswered. He has also not responded to the messages sent via SMS and WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command released a statement on its X page in the early hours of Tuesday, assuring the public that the perpetrators would be arrested and the abducted priest rescued unhurt.

EDO COMMAND REJIGS SECURITY IN AGENEBODE FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON DIOCESAN MINOR SEMINARY AND ABDUCTION OF REV. FR. THOMAS AYODE-VOWS PERPETRATORS MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.Following reports of the unfortunate abduction of a Rev Fr. at the Diocesan Minor Seminary in Agenebode pic.twitter.com/nwBp1s7eVI— Edo State Police Command (@EdoPoliceNG) October 28, 2024

Moses Joel Yamu, the state police spokesperson, could not be reached for additional comments as his calls were unanswered. The messages FIJ sent to him have also not been responded to.

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