Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly killed a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and abducted three seminarians in Edo State.
DAILY POST gathered that a local vigilante sustained gun injuries during the incident.
The Civil Defence Corps officer and the three seminarians were reportedly killed and abducted during an attack on the Catholic Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary school located at Ivianokpodi, Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area.
It was also gathered that the security officer was attached to the Catholic school.
Reverend Father Peter Egielewa, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Friday.
Egielewa said the gunmen attacked the school at about 9pm on Thursday night.
He said the Thursday incident would be the second time in 10 months that the school had been attacked.
The priest, who said the Diocese condemned the attack in the strongest terms, however, expressed displeasure over the persistent attack on the Catholic school, personnel, and its facility.
According to him, this is the second time in 10 months that the school had been attacked. 10 months ago, a priest was kidnapped.
“And now three seminarians were abducted and a civil defense corps member was killed, while a local vigilante sustained gun injuries
“We call on the government to protect the lives of all those who work in Catholic institutions and our Diocese.
“We hope that the security agencies at the local, state, and federal levels will take up the responsibility for it, so that our people can be at peace and safe”, he said.
DAILY POST, however, gathered that two brothers were abducted last month and paid a ransom of N35 million.
A source in the community who spoke on condition of anonymity said after the payment of the ransom, the abductors refused to release the victims until they paid an additional N6 million.
DAILY POST recalls that a priest of the Seminary, identified as Philip Ekeli, and Peter Andrew, a seminarian, were abducted on March 3, 2025.
The kidnappers, however, killed the Seminarian, Peter Andrew while the Rev. Fr. Peter Ekweli was released after he reportedly paid undisclosed sum as ransom on March 13, 2025 about 4:52 pm in Amughe Community
The victims are of the St. Peter Catholic Church, Iviukha, Etsako East Local Government Area.
