Kidnapped Catholic Priests: Shaibu holds Emergency Security Council Meeting

The Acting Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, convened an urgent Security Council Meeting with security chiefs and religious leaders in the State to assess the current security trends in the State and plan how to tackle the emerging challenges.

Shaibu told reporters after the meeting that lasted for more than four hours: “We had a lot of discussions and ideas on how to address the issues affecting our State and our people will witness the results soon.”

He added that “we have to be cautious about the information we share so as not to compromise the efforts of the security agencies.”

When asked about the progress made in rescuing the abducted catholic priests; Rev. Father Udo of St. Patrick Catholic Church Uromi, and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh, of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha, who were kidnapped on Saturday night, the Acting Governor said: “We are working on it.”

He assured that the State government is dedicated to protecting the church and everyone in the community as well as their property.

The State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, also confirmed that the rescue operation of the kidnapped catholic priests “is ongoing.”

He stressed: “We have evaluated the overall security situation of the State, we have implemented measures that are suitable for the present and future needs, and we want to assure everyone in the State and beyond that the government of the State is in charge and people should be confident that despite the current situation, the State is stable and secure.”

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State, Bishop Oriname Oyonnude Kure, said “the church is praying, we are confident that the government is taking decisive actions to deal with this problem, and criminality will soon be eliminated and eradicated.”

Kure sympathized with the Catholic Secretariat for the attacks on the church and affirmed that God is with the church.