Catholics protest against kidnapping in Edo Diocese

Peeved by the alarming insecurity in Edo State, members of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi on Friday embarked on a peaceful protest against the spate of killing and kidnapping priests in the state, particularly across the Auchi Diocese.

The protest is coming on the heels of a recent kidnapping of a priest in the diocese and killing of a seminarian.

The protesters in their numbers, including priests, took to the streets of Auchi carrying placards with various inscriptions.

A priest, Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli and seminarian, Andrew Peter, were recently kidnapped while the priest was released after ransom was reportedly paid, the seminarian was killed by his abductors.

Rev. Fr (Dr) Clement Anadevha, Director, Justice Development and Justice Commission (JDPC) who led the protesters, urged the “government to declare a state of emergency on security of lives and property.”

Anadevha also led the protesters to the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, where they also registered their displeasure over the attack on priests in the area.

In his response, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Dr Gabriel Dunia, said he had made several efforts on security matters, wondering why priests and the churches have become victims of kidnapping.

The bishop called on the government to act, lamenting that farmlands have been occupied by bandits who now deprive farmers from going to the farm.

The protesters also took their protest to the Etsako West Council secretariat to register their grievances.