By Isaac Mission
The Ebonyi State Police Command has rescued a Methodist Church minister who was abducted by armed men in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The command also disrupted an alleged cult gathering in Abakaliki, leading to the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, live ammunition and a stolen mobile phone.
The police spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
According to the statement, the abduction occurred around 11:55 p.m. on September 9, when the police received a distress call concerning Rev. Ede Sunday, a Methodist minister serving in Ndulo Amofia, Ohaukwu LGA.
The cleric was reportedly confronted by two armed men in front of his church. The attackers allegedly blocked his vehicle, forced him out at gunpoint and escaped with him on a motorcycle.
Following the report, the police said tactical operatives were immediately mobilised to track the suspects.
The pursuit led security personnel towards a location close to St. James Secondary School in Amofia. As the officers approached, the kidnappers reportedly abandoned the cleric and escaped into the surrounding bush.
Rev. Ede Sunday was subsequently rescued without injuries, while his vehicle was recovered. Police said he has since been reunited with his family, as efforts continue to locate the fleeing suspects.
Police Raid Suspected Cult Gathering
In another operation carried out on September 7, police operatives acting on intelligence raided a suspected cult meeting near a bakery in the Kpirikpiri area of Mile 50, Abakaliki.
The suspects reportedly fled when the officers arrived, but one person, identified as Oshim Chisom, was arrested.
During a search of a bag allegedly abandoned by the fleeing suspects, officers recovered a locally manufactured Beretta pistol containing a live 9mm round. A mobile phone believed to have been stolen during a robbery earlier that night was also found.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, praised the officers involved in the operations for their prompt response and courage.
He reaffirmed the command's determination to protect residents and property across the state, warning criminal elements that security agencies would continue to pursue them.
The police commissioner also called on residents to remain alert and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and apprehending suspects.
Police said the arrested suspect is currently assisting investigators as they work to uncover other members of the alleged criminal network, while operations to apprehend those who escaped are ongoing.