Teenage seminarians remain in captivity 2 months after, despite their public appeal for help
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Two teenage seminarians of the Catholics Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School, Agenebode in Etsako East Council of Edo are still being held captive two months after gunmen abducted them from the school on July 9.
The terrorists kidnapped three seminarians, killed an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), injured a local vigilante attached to the school, and fled with the living victims.
One abductee was later released after alleged payment of ransom by his relations, leaving behind the other two students for whom ransom is yet to be paid.
The remaining two seminarians in a viral video last month appealed to relations and members of the public to assist in the payment of the undisclosed amount the terrorists demand for their freedom.
The video shows the abductees holding a human skull and pleading: “Please we are begging everybody to help us pay the ransom they demanded before we are released.
“We are suffering here. Help us so that we can be released.”
Catholic Diocese of Auchi spokesperson Peter Egielewa confirmed the authenticity of the video.
“Yes, the video you see of them holding a human skull is real, we are negotiating with the kidnappers, but they are asking for money which we do not have and I think out of frustration they did that video,” he lamented.
Edo Police Command claimed in July that it was doing everything possible to ensure the release of the seminarians, with spokesperson Moses Yamu saying the Command was working with its Kogi counterpart to ensure the victims were released unhurt.
But a source confirmed that the seminarians are still in captivity.
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