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

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

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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 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.