Suspected kidnappers have abducted a Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Osia in the Ikabigbo community in Etsako West local government of Edo State.
Osia was abducted at his residence on Sunday morning while preparing for Catholic Mass.
A source that spoke with Bellnews Online on the issue said vigilante groups in the community are out to rescue the priest.
According to the source, the gunmen shot one of the boys in the community while searching for the cleric.
He said the victim was rushed to a hospital at Auchi but referred to Irrua specialist hospital for treatment.
The traditional rulers of the community, Bramah Alegeh, while confirming the development, said efforts are ongoing to get the priest released.
According to Alegeh, security agencies and vigilantes are combing the bush to ensure his release.
In another development, the Edo State police command has killed two suspected armed robbers in a shootout.
learnt that the suspects robbed a filling station in Benin metropolis on Sunday morning.
The robbers after their operation at the filling station headed for another location where the police engaged them in a duel.
The development was confirmed by the spokesperson of the command, who noted that other members of the gang escaped with injuries.
He said the police received information that armed robbers had invaded Rubec Oil and Gas Station located off Murtala Mohamed way Benin City.
The spokesperson said the police and Vigilante immediately mobilized to the scene and discovered that they had moved to another location.
He said the security team trailed the robbers to their location, adding that on sighting the security team, the robbers opened fire.
The spokesperson said, “In the process, two of the armed robbers were killed while others escaped with various degrees of bullet injuries.”
He added that the suspects were taken to the Police Cottage hospital where they were confirmed dead.