Two seminarians kidnapped from the Catholic Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School in Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, have pleaded with their parents and the public to help secure their release.
It was learnt that on July 10, armed men invaded the school, killed a civil defence officer on duty, and abducted three seminarians. While one of the victims was later freed, two have remained in captivity.
Following the abduction, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, ordered the immediate deployment of tactical units to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victims unharmed.
Agbonika said, “The operatives will not relent until those behind this reprehensible act are tracked down and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
In a video reportedly released by the kidnappers, the two teenage seminarians appeared surrounded by armed, masked men and were seen holding dried human skulls.
They said, “They kill people here. Our abductors have threatened to kill us. Please, send money to them to spare our lives.”
The spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, confirmed the authenticity of the footage.
He said, “The video you see of the seminarians holding a human skull is real. We are negotiating with the kidnappers. But they are asking for money which we do not have and I think it’s out of frustration they did that video.”
