Nigerian Police Rescue Abducted Pastor in 3-Day Hunt

When armed men grabbed Rev. Ede Sunday from his car outside his church on September 9, police in Ebonyi State knew every minute counted.

The pastor was leading his congregation at Ndulo Amofia in Ohaukwu when two gunmen intercepted his vehicle, forced him out at gunpoint, and sped away on a motorcycle. Church members immediately called authorities.

Police mobilized teams within minutes of receiving the distress call. Officers fanned out across rural roads, following leads and coordinating with local residents who provided crucial tips about suspicious movements in the area.

The pursuit worked. As police closed in on the kidnappers' location, the armed men panicked and abandoned Rev. Sunday at St. James Secondary School in Amofia. Officers found him unharmed and quickly reunited him with his relieved family.

Authorities recovered the pastor's vehicle and are now tracking the fleeing suspects. The investigation continues with help from witnesses who came forward after the rescue.

The Ripple Effect

This rescue demonstrates what's possible when police respond quickly and communities speak up. The coordination between officers and residents turned what could have been a tragedy into a story of protection and hope.

Commissioner Hope Urunwa Okafor praised her team's professionalism and reinforced the command's zero-tolerance approach to violent crime. She's calling on more residents to share information that can prevent future attacks.

In a separate operation that same week, police disrupted a suspected criminal meeting in Abakaliki, recovering an illegal firearm and a stolen phone. One suspect was arrested and is helping with ongoing investigations.

The dual operations show Ebonyi State's security forces are actively working to make their communities safer, one intervention at a time.

Rev. Sunday is back home with his family, grateful for the officers who refused to give up.