By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-10-30 17:18:45 | Updated at 2024-10-30 19:26:24
2 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // Father Thomas Oyode, rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Edo State, Nigeria, was kidnapped on October 27, after offering himself in exchange for two seminarians.
An October 28 press release from Fr. Peter Egielewa, director of communications for the Diocese of Auchi, reported that gunmen entered the chapel during evening prayers and Benediction in the seminary’s chapel. They fired shots and initially took two seminarians hostage.
Fr. Oyode intervened, pleading with the gunmen to release the students and offering himself in their place, according to Vatican News. The kidnappers accepted his offer and led him into the bush, leaving the seminarians unharmed.
The vice rector and all students were safely accounted for and temporarily relocated while local authorities work to strengthen security around the seminary, Fr. Egielewa stated in the news release.
The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 Million Naira (approximately $120,000 USD), according to a report from The Nigerian Voice.
“We request all people of goodwill to disregard the purported release of Fr. Thomas Oyode in several audio messages on social media,” Fr. Egielewa said, affirming that as of October 30 Fr. Oyode is still “in the hands of his abductors” and requesting continued prayers for his safe release.
Nigeria is on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of countries that suffer “extreme levels of religious persecution.” As CatholicVote reported, Christians in the predominantly Islamic country face frequent abductions and fatal attacks.
