The Edo State Police Command has rescued an Italian Catholic priest of Somascan Father’s community, Rev. Fr Luigi Brena, 64 who was kidnapped by hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers along Ogunwenyi through Usen community in Ovia South West Local government area of Edo state on Sunday July 3.
A statement released on Monday by the Edo State Police deputy spokesperson Jennifer Iwegbu noted that when the police got information of the kidnap, they immediately swung into action and trailed the kidnappers to their camp deep in the forest.
Coming barely two weeks after the killing of a Catholic priest, Rev. Christopher Odia by suspected herdsmen at the small town of Ikabigbo Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State and the kidnap of two Catholic priests, Rev. Udo Peter of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area and Rev. Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Area along the Benin-Auchi Road on Sunday July 3.
Iwegbu who was silent on the fate of the two Catholic clergymen, said that on sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire on them, adding however that the superior fire power of the police operatives neutralized three of the kidnappers while the rest escaped into the forest with various degrees of gun shot injuries abandoning their victim.
According to her, the victim was rushed to Igbinedion Teaching Hospital, Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state for medical care.
The spokesperson intensive bush combing is ongoing with the aim of arresting the suspected kidnappers now on the run.
She emphasized the admonition of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro to Edo people not to deter in partnering with the police by availing it with prompt and useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminals terrorizing the state.
