Edo State police Command on Sunday confirmed the kidnap of two Catholic Reverend Fathers from Central Senatorial District along Benin-Auchi Expressway between Ehor and Iruekpen.
The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) SP Chidi Nwabuzor, made this known in a statement in Benin, saying that the Catholic priests kidnapped are Rev. Fr. Udo Peter and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh.
“This is to confirm the kidnap incident of two Catholic Reverend Fathers, Rev. Fr. Udo Pe,ter of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Uromi and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha, in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
“The Edo State Police Command was informed of the incident by the Divisional Police Officer, Ugboha, Edo State, that on Sunday 03/07/2022 one Rev. Father Amos Abhulimen of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Ugboha reported that he was informed by the Catholic authority via WhatsApp that the above named Catholic Rev. Fathers were attacked, kidnapped and taken to unknown place by some kidnappers along Benin-Auchi Expressway between EHOR and IRUEKPEN Communities,” Nwabuzor said.
He said that immediately, Edo Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, dispatched Police Operatives to the area.
He said the police would carry out aggressive and well-coordinated manhunt in arresting the kidnappers and rescuing of the Rev. Fathers unhurt.
He solicited for the cooperation of the public by giving information to the Police and other sister security agencies in policing the state.
Meanwhile, a yet to be identified suspected vandal was electrocuted on Sunday, July 3, while vandalising Umuezerimpi 500KVA Distribution Sub-station located at Umuatuegwu village in Okija community of Anambra.
Mr Emeka Ezeh, the Head, Corporate Communications of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), who confirmed the development on Sunday in Enugu, said that the suspected vandal attacked the company’s property at about 6a.m.
According to Ezeh, the deceased was not operating alone, as other members of his gang took to their heels immediately he was electrocuted, leaving behind his lifeless body and their tools at the scene of the incident.
He revealed that a formal report on the development had been lodged at the Okija Police Division, for detailed investigation.
“The tools used by the electrocuted vandal and his fleeing colleagues were also recovered and his corpse deposited at the Okija General Hospital Mortuary.
“This is coming as EEDC issued a report on four suspected vandals who were apprehended in its network for attacking its electrical installations.
“Just imagine how this young man has cut his life short over nothing. It is hoped that this will serve as a deterrent to others engaging in this dastardly act,” he said.
The EEDC spokesman, however, urged members of the public to be vigilant and be on the lookout as it appears that vandals are on rampage, attacking EEDC installations and inconveniencing its customers in South-East.
“Let us all join hands and ensure these very few people in our society that are bent on making life miserable for all of us are stopped,” Ezeh appealed.
