Fr. Oyode, Abducted Edo Catholic Priest Regains Freedom

Nelson Utip

Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, the kidnapped Catholic priest of the Auchi Diocese in Edo State, has regained his freedom after 11 days in the kidnappers den,  the clergyman who is the Rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, was kidnapped on Sunday at about 7pm at the school premises.

According to The Edo State Police Command, two suspects have been arrested in connection with incident. It confirmed that Rev. Fr. Oyode was set free on Wednesday night as he was abandoned along the road after security forces mounted pressure on the hoodlums through air surveillance over the forest where he was held and was picked up by members of the diocese.

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AIG Arungwa Nwazue, The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Benin, confirmed the priest’s rescue.

While negotiations were ongoing after the hoodlums demanded a ransom of N200 million, security forces tracked his location leading to the panicky release of the clergyman, it’s not acertained if any ransom was paid.