The two priests kidnapped in Nigeria, including an Italian, were released by the police. The «Aid to the Church in Need» Foundation reports on Twitter the release of Father Emmanuel Silas, from the diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna. The local press then reports that the police rescued and brought to the hospital Father Luigi Brena, an Italian, Somascan religious kidnapped in Ogunwenyi, community of Usen, in the local government area southwest of Ovia, in the state of Edo. Father Brena, 64, was kidnapped on Sunday evening and injured, but fortunately not seriously.
Speaking of Father Silas, in his tweet “Aid to the Church in Need” he thanks “everyone for their closeness” and adds: “Let’s not stop supporting his brothers with prayer still in the hands of the kidnappers!”. The kidnapping and release of Father Brena, according to the local press, were instead confirmed yesterday by the deputy public relations officer of the Edo state police command, Jennifer Iwegbu, according to which three of the suspected kidnappers were shot dead. weapon.
Prior to the kidnapping of Father Brena, gunmen had kidnapped two other Catholic priests around the communities of Ehor and Iruekpen along the Benin-Auchi highway. Fr Udo Peter, of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi, and Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Ugboha, have yet to regain their freedom in the local government area of southeastern Esan of the state.
Regarding the kidnapping of Brena, the police officer explained that the officers assigned to the Iguobazuwa division were notified of the kidnapping on Sunday around 5:45 pm and immediately identified and followed the suspected kidnappers to their camp. The command spokeswoman added that the suspects opened fire on the officers, and the police promptly responded. “The superior firepower of the police officers – says a note – neutralized three of the kidnappers while the rest fled into the forest with various gunshot wounds, abandoning the kidnapped priest”. Father Brena was immediately rushed to Igbinedion Teaching Hospital, Okada.