The Nigeria Police Force has vowed to rescue the abducted Rev Fr Thomas Oyode, the Rector of Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School, Ivanokpodi, in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government of Edo State, unhurt.
The spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, SP Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday.
Rev. Fr. Oyode was kidnapped on Sunday night by gunmen during the evening mass after he offered to be taken away in exchange for the two seminarians earlier abducted by the gunmen.
The kidnappers were reported to have contacted the Auchi Catholic Diocese on Monday demanding N200m ransom to free the kidnapped priest.
The Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Begielewa, confirmed the ransom demand.
Meanwhile, the police PRO noted that during the visit, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, AIG Arungwa Nwazue, accompanied by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Umoru Peter Ozigi, met with the chairperson of Etsako East LGA, Hon. Benedicta. In the meeting, Nwazue and Ozigi vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to him, the AIG, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, sympathised with the community, the seminary, and the entire Catholic body over the incident and assured them that the police would stop at nothing to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book and the abducted Rev. Father is rescued unhurt.