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How Rector at Minor Seminary in Nigeria Offered Himself to Kidnappers to Save Seminarians

Fr. Thomas Oyode. Credit: Nigerian Catholics

By Agnes Aineah

Jos, 04 November, 2024 / 11:00 pm (ACI Africa).

Details have emerged of the circumstances surrounding the October 27 kidnapping of Fr. Thomas Oyode, who is said to have offered to be taken in the place of the students at the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria, where he serves as Rector.

Fr. Oyode was taken away on the fateful Sunday during Evening Prayer and Benediction, when gunmen attacked the institution that is located in Edo State of Nigeria’s embattled central southern region.

The Director of Communications of Auchi Diocese, Fr. Peter Egielewa, informed ACI Africa on Monday, November 4 that Fr. Oyode was still in captivity, adding that the kidnapped Catholic Priest had sacrificed his freedom to save the students at the Minor Seminary.

“Father Thomas is still with the kidnappers since October 27,” Fr. Egielewa said, and added curtly, “He offered to be taken instead of the Seminarians.”

Gunshots at the Seminary are said to have prompted all, but two students to flee the school premises during the 7 p.m. incident at the Minor Seminary located in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East LGA of Edo State.

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An unnamed source said that when the two students were captured by suspected Fulani kidnappers, Fr. Oyode intervened, pleading with the Fulani herdsmen to release the students and to take him instead.

“The kidnappers released the students and took Father Oyode away,” the source wrote in a WhatsApp Group for African Catholic Theologians, adding, “Following the abduction, Fr. Oyode was led into the bush.”

In an October 28 statement, Fr. Egielewa clarified that the Minor Seminary’s Vice Rector and all the Seminarians were all safe following the attack.

He said that the Seminarians, alongside all staff at the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary had been temporarily relocated to a safe area as uncertainty lingered around the Catholic institution that offers education and formation for youths keen on later pursuing Religious and Priestly studies and formation in Major Seminaries.

Fr. Egielewa has disputed widely circulated media reports and social media posts that the Minor Seminary Rector had been released, saying, “We request all people of goodwill  to disregard the purported release of Fr Thomas Oyode in several audio messages on social media.”

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“Unfortunately, Fr Oyode is still in the hands of his abductors,” he said, and added, “The Diocese of Auchi is praying and urging the abductors to set Father Oyode free and unharmed.”

In the November 4 interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Egielewa said the Diocese of Auchi was cooperating with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria “to help get Fr Thomas freed.”

Agnes Aineah

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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