Edo Catholic Priest released after 11 days of kidnapping

Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Auchi in Edo State, has been freed after spending 11 days in captivity.

Fr. Oyode, who is the Rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ivhianokpodi, was abducted on Sunday around 7 pm from the school premises.

The Edo State Police Command reported the arrest of two suspects in connection with the abduction.

According to sources, Fr. Oyode was released on Wednesday night when his captors, under pressure from security forces conducting aerial surveillance, abandoned him along a road. He was later picked up by members of his diocese.

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

The kidnappers had initially demanded a N200 million ransom, though it remains unclear if any payment was made during ongoing negotiations. Security agencies had been actively tracking Fr. Oyode’s location throughout the ordeal.