Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted three students of the Catholic’s Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School, in Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo state.
It was gathered that the gunmen reportedly killed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and injured a local vigilante attached to the school.
A community source said the suspected the gunmen stormed the school at about 9pm.
The source disclosed that late last months, gunmen reportedly kidnaped two brothers in the area and ransom of N36 million was paid.
“But they refused to release the victim after the ransom payment and demanded additional N6 million from the family,” he alleged.
The spokespersons of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, who confirmed the killing of the civil defense officer and abduction of the seminarians, said the attack was the second in the last 10 months.
The priest expressed displeasure over the persistence attack on the Catholic school, its personnel and facility.
“10 month ago, a priest was kidnapped and now three seminarians were abducted and a civil defense corps killed, while a local vigilante sustained gun injuries,” he said.
Egielewa charged the government to protect the lives of students and workers in the Catholic institution as well as the diocese.
“We hope the security agencies at the local, state and federal level to take up the responsibility on that, so our people can be in peace and safety,” he said.
