A joint security team comprising the police, military, civil defence, and local vigilante groups successfully rescued Rev. Father Stephen Echezona in the early hours of Sunday, March 23, 2025.
The priest was found unharmed after being held hostage by armed criminals.
According to SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, Rev. Father Echezona was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida by armed men driving a white Lexus SUV without a license plate.
A gunfight ensued between the assailants and the joint security forces, forcing the criminals to abandon the Lexus in an attempt to escape.
However, they took the priest hostage as they fled the scene.
Following a coordinated hot pursuit, security checkpoints and operatives across the state were alerted.
The pressure from the security forces led the kidnappers to abandon the priest at Ihiala before escaping into a nearby bush.
The security team recovered the abandoned Lexus SUV and took control of the scene in Ihiala.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the Toyota Highlander belonging to Rev. Father Echezona.
“The situation is under control, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” SP Ikenga stated.