Nine days after being abducted, Rev. Fr. Peter Ekweli, the parish priest of St. Peter Catholic Church, Ivukwa, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, has regained his freedom.
However, the whereabouts of the seminarian taken alongside him, Peter Andrew, remain unclear.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding Andrew’s fate. While some accounts suggest he was killed, others indicate his status is still unknown.
According to The PUNCH, a source close to the Catholic Church disclosed that a ransom of about N20 million might have been paid for Fr. Ekweli’s release. However, another version claims he was rescued by security operatives.
In a viral video circulating online, a man—allegedly another kidnap victim—claimed he was held in the same location as the priest and seminarian. Surrounded by vigilante operatives, he recounted how the captors ordered them to close their eyes before a gunshot rang out.
“When we opened our eyes, we saw the seminarian struggling for his life before he finally passed away,” the man narrated.
According to him, the victims were later forced to walk to an undisclosed location in Edo Central, from where he eventually escaped.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, confirmed Fr. Ekweli’s release.
“The priest has been rescued by the police. An official statement will be issued soon,” Yamu stated.
Meanwhile, a source within the Catholic Church revealed that an official statement regarding Fr. Ekweli’s release is expected on Friday.
