A fresh wave of violence has struck the Catholic Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, located in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, leaving one officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps dead and three students abducted.
The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, according to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria.
Director of Social Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, confirmed the attack and lamented the growing insecurity around Catholic institutions in the region.
He disclosed that this marks the second assault on the seminary in less than a year.
“We are deeply saddened and condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence,” Egielewa said, describing the persistent attacks as troubling and unacceptable.
“This is the second time in 10 months that the school has been attacked. Ten months ago, a priest was kidnapped.
“And now three seminarians were abducted and a civil defence corps is killed, while a local vigilante sustained gun injuries.
“We call on the government to protect the lives of all those who work in catholic institution and our diocese.
“We hope the security agencies at the local, state and federal levels to take up the responsibility on that, so our people can be in peace and safety,” he added.
The Catholic community and residents of the area have since been thrown into a state of fear and mourning, as calls intensify for swift intervention by security agencies.
