A seminarian abducted on March 3 from a parish rectory in the Nigerian Diocese of Auchi was murdered by his abductors, an official of the diocese has confirmed. A priest he was abducted with has been released.

Father Peter Egielewa and Andrew Peter were kidnapped from the rectory of St. Peter Catholic Church in Edo state when gunmen attacked both the rectory and church, destroying doors and windows, and led the abductees into a nearby forest.

A Church statement confirmed the safe release of Father Ekweli, ending 10 days of captivity, but noted that the 21-year-old major seminarian, Andrew Peter, “was gruesomely murdered by the abductors”.

The local Bishop, Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia, called on country’s security agencies to stop the deteriorating security situation, adding: “Life has been hell for our people in recent times.”