A seminarian kidnapped on 3 March from a church rectory in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi was killed by his captors, while the priest kidnapped with him has been released, a diocesan official confirmed.
Seminarian Andrew Peter, 21, was brutally murdered by his captors, according to Fr. Peter Egielewa, communications director for the Diocese of Auchi. Fr. Philip Ekweli, the priest kidnapped with Peter, was released on 13 March after 10 days in captivity.
The kidnappers attacked the parish house of St. Peter’s Church in Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State, and took the priest and seminarian to a nearby bush.
The Diocese of Auchi expressed its condolences to Peter’s family and urged the Nigerian government to take proactive measures to address the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia criticized the police response to the kidnapping, saying they should implement better strategies for rescuing kidnapped victims instead of leaving the burden to the victims’ families and friends.
The kidnapping and killing are the latest incidents in a series of attacks on Christians in Nigeria, where kidnappings, murders, and other forms of persecution are common, especially in the north.