An Italian Catholic priest of the Somascan fathers community in Iguobazuwa that was kidnapped on Sunday has been rescued by operatives of the Edo State Police Command.
The Police authority made this known on Monday through a press statement signed by the deputy police public relations officer Jennifer Iwegbu.
This is coming hours after two Catholic priests from Esan North East in the state were kidnapped same Sunday along the Ehor Iruekpen axis of the Benin- Auchi express road.
According to the statement, Police Operatives attached to Iguobazuwa Division on the 3rd of July at about 5.45 pm received information that sixty four year old Reverend Father Luigi Brena an Italian of the Somascan Fathers community was kidnapped by hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers, along Ogunwenyi through Usen community in Ovia South West Local government area of Edo State.
Police operatives were immediately dispatched to rescue the Italian Catholic Priest from the kidnappers who on sighting the police men on their trail opened fire on them.
They however succumbed to the higher fire power of the police who neutralized three of the kidnappers while the others escaped into the forest with various degrees of injuries, abandoning their victim.
The victim is however receiving medical attention at a hospital in Okada while intensive bush combing is ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, Abutu Yaro, while reiterating the command commitment in the fight against kidnapping and other crimes in the State solicited support from the public availing prompt and useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminals terrorising the State.
There has been an upsurge in the spate of kidnapping especially of clergymen across Nigeria in recent times.
A Catholic priest of Saint Michael catholic church Ikabigbo Etsako West, Christopher Odia was kidnapped a few days ago and killed in the process while effort was being made to rescue him.
This is also as two Catholic priests from Esan North East were kidnapped by unknown persons.
Many residents are apprehensive of the latest upsurge in kidnappings and want the police and the state government to make efforts in addressing the situation.
Editor, Omor Bazuaye
