The Edo State Police Command has said that the parish priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, lkhabigbo, Edo State, Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, who was abducted in the early hours of Sunday, June 26, was killed during a rescue operation.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu.
Okay.ng recalls that the late Odia was preparing for mass on the fateful Sunday morning when he was whisked away by the men who stormed his premises.
The statement read, “Following the kidnap of the parish priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, lkhabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, in his rectory while coming out to go for Sunday mass in the wee hours of June 25, 2022, a combined team of police tactical teams, Jattu divisional police operatives and the local vigilante team, led by the Divisional Police Officer, went into the forest with a view to rescuing the catholic priest.
“In frustration, the abductors killed Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia. A hunter, identified as Nurudeen, was also shot dead in the process, while police personnel who went on the trail of the kidnappers decimated one of them with other gang members escaping with various gunshot injuries.
“Intensive bush combing is ongoing towards ensuring that those who escaped are arrested and made to face justice.”
The Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Philiph Shaibu was on condolence visit to the bereaved community.
Shaibu led other government functionaries and heads of security agencies in the state to Ikabigbo.
He appealed for calm among residents in the community.
