The Anambra State Police Command has successfully rescued a Catholic priest who was kidnapped on Sunday morning in the state.
Rev. Father Stephen Echezona was rescued by the combined team of security operatives, comprising the police, in collaboration with the military, civil defence, and the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVG), in Ichida, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the rescue, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victim was abducted at a petrol station in Ichida by armed criminals operating in a white Lexus SUV without a licence plate.
Ikenga said in an attempt to flee the scene, due to the superior firepower of the joint security team, the assailants abandoned the white Lexus and took the Rev. Father with them.
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The operatives also recovered the white Lexus vehicle.
Ikenga explained that during a coordinated pursuit, security checkpoints and operatives across the state were alerted, leading to the criminals abandoning the priest in Ihiala and fleeing into a nearby bush.
He further stated that the joint security team had secured the scene in Ihiala and was continuing efforts to apprehend the armed criminals and recover the Toyota Highlander belonging to Rev. Father Echezona.
