Catholic Priest Freed by Security Forces After Kidnapping in Anambra
By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with the Military, Civil Defence, and Anambra Vigilante Services (AVG), has rescued a Catholic priest who had been kidnapped on Sunday morning.
Reverend Father Stephen Echezona, who was kidnapped on Saturday evening along Ichida Road, Ihiala, was safely released through the concerted efforts of a combined team of security operatives in Ichida, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the rescue of the victim, disclosing that the abduction occurred at a fuel station in Ichida. According to Ikenga, the perpetrators were armed individuals traveling in an unregistered white Lexus SUV.
He said, the perpetrators abandoned the unregistered white Lexus SUV and, in a bid to evade capture due to the overwhelming firepower of the joint security operatives, took Reverend Father Echezona hostage in a desperate attempt to facilitate their escape.
According to him, the joint security operatives recovered the unregistered white Lexus SUV, which had been utilized by the perpetrators during the commission of the crime.
SP Ikenga further noted that the Joint Security Team has effectively secured the crime scene in Ihiala and is presently conducting a thorough operation to apprehend the armed perpetrators and recover the stolen Toyota Highlander vehicle, which belongs to Reverend Father Echezona.
He also disclosed that a statewide alert was issued, notifying all security checkpoints and operatives to be on high alert, as part of a coordinated pursuit effort. Consequently, the suspects abandoned Reverend Father Echezona in Ihiala and fled into a nearby wooded area in an attempt to evade capture.