Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - The seminarian who was kidnapped along with a priest on March 3 in southern Nigeria (see Fides, 5/3/2025) has been murdered, while the priest was released. According to the Diocese of Auchi, "Fr. Philip Ekweli was released by the kidnappers on Thursday, 13th of March, 2025 close to Amughe village, a few kilometres from Okpekpe town, North Ibie in Etsako East LGA of Edo State."
"Unfortunately, however, the 21-year-old major seminarian, Andrew Peter, who was kidnapped along with Fr Ekweli, was gruesomely murdered by the abductors," the statement added, signed by Fr. Peter Egielewa, Director of the Diocesan Media Relations Office. Father Ekweli and seminarian Andrew were kidnapped from the rectory of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East County, Edo State, at approximately 9:30 p.m. on March 3, when armed men entered both the rectory and the church. The two were taken to nearby forests.
The diocese appeals to security forces to protect the people of Edo State from the ongoing kidnappings: "The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, expresses gratitude to all for the prayers and moral support received while Fr Ekweli and the Seminarian were held in captivity. He calls on the government at all levels and the security agencies to stop the deteriorating security situation in Edo North in particular and other parts of Edo State, which has now become a safe haven for kidnappers, who can operate with impunity, while the people feel helpless and abandoned." "People are not safe on the roads, in their farms and even in their homes. This is unacceptable when there are elected officials whose duty it is to protect the people. The bishop is grateful to the Edo State Government for their sincere efforts in seeing the victims rescued, but expresses dissatisfaction with the response of the police in particular in the rescue efforts, urging them to put in place better measures to rescue kidnapped victims rather than leave the entire rescue efforts solely in the hands of family, friends and acquaintances of kidnapped victims."
Father Egielewa recalls that "in the past decade, six of its priests had been kidnapped and tortured before release, three were attacked but escaped, and two—Fr. Christopher Odia and Seminarian Andrew Peter—were murdered." "May the souls of Seminarian Andrew Peter, Fr Christopher Odia and all those killed by kidnappers in Nigeria through the mercy of God rest in peace," the statement concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 17/3/2025)
ASIA/INDONESIA - Bishop Hormat: The “domestic” and “ad gentes” mission of the Catholics of Flores. “Vocations are not our work, but God’s,”
ASIA/CHINA - “Salt of the earth, light of the world”. 11 new graduates at the Major Seminary of Shaanxi Province
AFRICA/NIGERIA - Father Sylvester Okechukwu killed on Ash Wednesday, a few hours after his kidnapping
AFRICA/NIGERIA - Dramatic kidnapping of a priest and a seminarian
AFRICA/NIGERIA - A priest and pharmacist shot dead in the street