Andrew Peter (left), a seminarian, and Father Philip Ekweli (right) were abducted March 3, 2025, from a parish rectory in Nigeria’s Docese of Auchi. Andrew Peter was murdred, though Ekweli was released and is receiving medical attention. / Credit: Catholic Diocese of Auchi
ACI Africa, Mar 18, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
AseminarianabductedonMarch3fromaparishrectoryintheNigerianDioceseofAuchiwasmurderedbyhisabductors,anofficialofthediocesehasconfirmed.Thepriesthewasabductedwithhasbeenreleased.
InastatementsharedwithACIAfrica,CNA’snewspartnerinAfrica,onMarch15,thedirectorofcommunicationoftheAuchiDiocese,FatherPeterEgielewa,confirmedthesafereleaseofFatherPhilipEkweliatabout4p.m.onThursday,March13,ending10daysofcaptivityinthehandsofhisabductors.
“Heisnowreceivingappropriatemedicalattention,”Egielewasaid.
“Unfortunately,however,the21-year-oldmajorseminarian,AndrewPeter,whowaskidnappedalongwithFatherEkweli,wasgruesomelymurderedbytheabductors,”Egielewa’sstatementcontinued.HeexpressedtheNigerianepiscopalsee’s“sincerecondolencesto
