The Catholic Diocese of Auchi has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Monday Okpebholo and security agencies to engage in the release of the two seminarians kidnapped from the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary.
The Seminarians were abducted on July 10, 2025 and a recent video circulating on social media shows the two minors holding a dried up skull and begging to be released from captivity.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, expressed his dissatisfaction with the police response to the kidnapping in a statement made available by the director of communications of the diocese.
“As the chief shepherd of the Diocese, I feel personally hurt and disturbed that my seminarians, our children, are living with armed strangers for 35 days now,” the statement read.
“I find it difficult to sleep these days because of this. We have been praying since their kidnapping, and again, I call on people everywhere to please pray with us.”
He stated that three of the seminarians had been kidnapped initially, but one had been released due to an injury and a Civil Defense officer stationed at the seminary had been killed by the kidnappers.
“A personnel of the Nigerian Civil Defence, Mr Christopher Aweneghieme, stationed at the Seminary was killed, and three minor seminarians were abducted and led into the bush.
“However, on the 18th of July 2025, one of the seminarians, who was injured, was released by the abductors, leaving the other two with them. The Diocese of Auchi has been in contact with the kidnappers, urging them to release the remaining two seminarians.
The Bishop of the diocese called on the President to do the needful and come to the rescue of these minors and also urged the government to take proactive steps to secure the lives and property of its citizens.
“The Bishop of the Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, calls on the president of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and all security agencies in the country to do the needful and help rescue our children from the hands of the kidnappers.
He also noted a rise in the number of kidnaps in the state since the abduction of the seminarians.
“Coincidentally, since the minor seminary attack, there have been several kidnap cases in Edo North in particular and Edo State. It appears kidnappers in Nigeria have suddenly found a convenient place of operation in Edo North and Edo State.
“Our people feel frustrated and helpless. We are deeply worried about how this abnormality has become normal, and it appears our people are just left on their own to continue to live in such an environment of perpetual fear and terror. It shouldn’t be. We beg that Edo North be secured so that our people can once again live in peace and safety.”
