Reverend Father Stephen Echezona, who had been abducted by gunmen at a petrol station in Ichida, Anaocha Local Government Area, has been freed by the Anambra State Police Command.
The assailants, driving a white Lexus SUV with no plate number, seized the priest in his vehicle after abandoning theirs amid a gunfight with security personnel who rushed to the incident.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the victim was rescued in the early hours of March 23, 2025, by a joint security team comprised of 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 said.
Furthermore, he stated that the kidnappers abandoned their Lexus SUV in an attempt to escape after a gun battle with 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.
“The operatives also recovered the white Lexus vehicle,” he further stated.
The police PRO also 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.
“The joint security team has taken over the scene in Ihiala for the possible arrest of the armed criminals and recovery of the Toyota Highlander belonging to the Rev. Father.
“Further developments would be communicated, please,” Ikenga added.
