NEWS BRIEFING: Gunmen attack seminary and abduct rector
Unidentified armed men stormed a Catholic seminary in southern Nigeria on Sunday evening (27th October) and kidnapped its rector.
The terrorists attacked Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ivhianokpodi, Edo State and captured Father Thomas Oyode during Benediction and Evening Prayer, according to a statement sent to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
Father Peter Egielewa, director of communications at Auchi Diocese wrote in the statement that “the vice vector 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”.
Father Egielewa added: “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.”
The statement concluded: “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi requests all people of goodwill to join the faithful of the Diocese in prayers so that the abductors release Father Oyode unharmed.”