The Anambra State Police Command has rescued Reverend Father Stephen Echezona, who was abducted by gunmen at a petrol station in Ichida, Anaocha Local Government Area.

The assailants, operating in a white Lexus SUV without a plate number, seized the priest in his Toyota Highlander after abandoning their vehicle during a gun battle with security operatives responding to the incident.

In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the rescue, which took place in the early hours of March 23, 2025, through a joint operation involving the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante groups from Ichida and Ihiala.

“In the early hours of today, March 23, 2025, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence, AVG Ichida, and Ihiala respectively secured the release of Rev. Father Stephen Echezona at Ihiala. The priest was returned unharmed,” Ikenga stated.

He added that the kidnappers abandoned the white Lexus SUV during a gun exchange with the security forces.

“The victim was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida where a joint security force engaged the armed criminals in a gun duel. The assailants abandoned the white Lexus and, in a bid to flee the scene due to the superior firepower of the joint security team, held the Rev. Father hostage,” he said.

Ikenga explained that a coordinated chase led to multiple security checkpoints being alerted, forcing the kidnappers to abandon the priest in Ihiala and escape through a nearby bush.

“In a coordinated hot chase by the operatives, different security checkpoints and security operatives in the state were alerted, which resulted in the criminals abandoning the priest at Ihiala and escaping through a nearby bush,” he said.

The joint security team has taken over the scene in Ihiala to pursue the suspects and recover the priest’s Toyota Highlander.

“Further developments would be communicated,” Ikenga added.

THE GUARDIAN