3 Bandits Killed In Edo Forest As Kidnapped Italian Catholic Priest Is Rescued

64 year old Italian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Luigi Brena who was kidnapped by bandits operating in the forests in Edo State has been released after the police swooped on his abductors in the nearby forest killing three of them with the others fleeing.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that the Italian who was kidnapped near Ogunwenyi, Usen community in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, was kidnapped on Sunday evening.

The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Jennifer Iwegbu, confirmed the release of the kidnapped Italian Catholic priest in a statement on Monday.

Besides the now rescued priest two other Catholic priests who were also kidnapped are being held by the bandits operating from the forests in Edo State.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that before Brena’s abduction, two Catholic priests were also kidnapped around Ehor and Iruekpen communities along the Benin-Auchi Expressway on Saturday.

The kidnapped priests were identified as Reverend Father Udo Peter of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi, and Reverend Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The police spokeswoman giving details of the release of the kidnapped Italian catholic priest, explained that police operatives attached to Iguobazuwa Division were alerted of the incident on Sunday at about 5:45 pm and immediately trailed the suspected kidnappers to their camp.

On sighting the operatives, the command’s spokesperson narrated, the suspects opened fire on them after which the police swiftly responded.

“The superior firepower of the police operatives neutralised three of the kidnappers while the rest escaped into the forest with various degrees of gunshot injuries, abandoning their victim,” she said.

“The victim was immediately rushed to Igbinedion Teaching Hospital, Okada for medical attention. Meanwhile, intensive bush combing is ongoing with the aim of arresting the suspected kidnappers now on the run.”

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