By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
A Catholic priest identified as Reverend Father Stephen Echezona, who was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida, Anambra State has been rescued by a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence and vigilante groups.
Anambra Police Command spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Sunday said Reverend Father Echezona was rescued unharmed in the early hours of March 23, 2025, at Ihiala.
According to the statement, the kidnappers were forced to abandon their operational vehicle, a white Lexus SUV without a plate number following gun duel with the security operatives.
“The assailants abandoned the white Lexus and, in a bid to flee the scene due to the superior firepower of the Joint Security Team, fled the scene and held the Rev. Father hostage,” SP Ikenga stated.
“The joint security team, however, pursued the criminals, alerting different security checkpoints and operatives in the state. This led to the criminals abandoning the Reverend Father at Ihiala and escaping through a nearby bush.
“The Police have taken over the scene in Ihiala, working to apprehend the armed criminals and recover the Toyota Highlander belonging to the Reverend Father.
The Anambra Police Command spokesperson said further developments on efforts to arrest the kidnappers would be communicated to the public.
