The Ebonyi State Police Command has rescued a Methodist cleric who was abducted by gunmen in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The police also arrested a suspected cult member in Abakaliki and recovered a locally made Beretta pistol loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition during a separate operation.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi State Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the police, the cleric, identified as Rev. Ede Sunday, was kidnapped on September 9, 2026, after two armed men intercepted his vehicle in front of his church at Ndulo Amofia in Ohaukwu LGA.
The assailants reportedly forced the cleric out of his vehicle before taking him away on a motorcycle.
Following a distress call, police operatives were mobilised and launched a pursuit of the suspected kidnappers.
The pressure from the security operatives reportedly forced the abductors to abandon Rev. Ede as they fled the area.
Police later found and rescued the cleric at St. James Secondary School, Amofia.
His vehicle was also recovered, while the rescued cleric has since been reunited with his family.
The Ebonyi Police Command said efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects involved in the abduction.
In a separate operation in Abakaliki, police operatives disrupted an alleged cult gathering in the Kpirikpiri area of Mile 50.
The operation, which was carried out around 11:52 p.m. on September 7, followed intelligence received by the command about the suspected gathering.
The suspects reportedly fled after sighting the police, with one of them abandoning a bag at the scene.
A search of the bag led to the recovery of a locally made Beretta pistol containing one round of 9mm ammunition.
Police also recovered a mobile phone allegedly belonging to a victim who had reportedly been robbed earlier that night.
One suspect, identified as Oshim Chisom, was arrested during the operation and is currently assisting investigators.
The police said efforts were being intensified to identify and apprehend the other suspects who escaped from the scene.
The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, CP Hope Urunwa Okafor, commended the officers involved in both operations.
She praised their prompt response, courage and professionalism, while reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting residents and property across the state.
The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide the police with credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in preventing crime and apprehending suspected criminals.
The latest operations come amid continued efforts by the Ebonyi State Police Command to tackle kidnapping, cultism, robbery and other forms of criminal activity across the state.
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