On Sunday morning, unidentified gunmen stormed into the Ikabigbo community in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, where they allegedly abducted a priest who goes by the name Reverend Father Osia.
The hoodlums reportedly broke into the priest’s home as he was getting ready for Sunday mass and took him hostage.
The community vigilante group has started bush-combing in an effort to rescue the priest, according to a source in the community who wished to remain anonymous.
It was also gathered that the gunmen shot one of the community boys who was searching for the reverend father, and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The traditional ruler of the community, Bramah Alegeh, who confirmed the incident, explained that efforts were ongoing by military operatives, in collaboration with others, to ensure the release of the cleric.
When contacted, the spokesman of Edo Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not confirm the incident, but promised to get back to journalists.