Former Anglican Primate,
Dr. Peter Jasper Akinola, who was on Tuesday abducted in Abeokuta, the Ogun
State, yesterday narrated his ordeal and eventual rescue.
Akinola, who was also former President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), was abducted by gunmen with his driver at Obada, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. He was returning from the Youth Industrial Training Centre, which he established to cater for unemployed youths.
Giving his testimony during the Christmas service at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Obasanjo Hill Top, Abeokuta, Akinola said he never imagined what happened: “What happened yesterday (Tuesday) was what I used to think is drama. A thing that we used to see on the television, until much more later that I realised it was real.
“I left the house at about 11.00 a.m. to go to our site where we are building structure to train young people who are unemployed. As I was coming out of the place where I had gone to give food to our workers for Christmas, as I was stepping out, these two young men came out of their car from nowhere. They asked me to open the door and knocking the glass with their guns.”
The septuagenarian revealed that he instructed his driver, Jonah, who was a bit hesitant to open the door for them:
“As soon as they entered the car, they sandwiched us at the back of the car and drove off. They told us to put our head down and that they will blow off our heads if we look up.
“They drove for about an hour, where we didn’t know until we discovered that we were in the midst of a thick forest. Then I requested to talk and informed them that there was no enough fuel in the car.”
Akinola said the hoodlums queried them for not having enough fuel in the car, while his driver responded that they just returned from a journey:
“In the bush, I was surprised at how they were able to locate a filling station where they bought N3000 fuel and continued with the journey. Thereafter, they started asking questions about dollars of which I said there was none. I told them I was a village pastor that has just retired and that the car was given to me by the church.
“They also asked about the security of the car and I told them there was none. They searched for it for almost two hours, but couldn’t find anything. While this was going on, I was just praying that God of mercy should come to our rescue. I was remembering how God saved some believers in the Bible and I concluded that if I must die, how can it be in the hands of these people?”
He said unknown to them, the news had started circulating around and people had started praying: “Meanwhile, they had taken everything from us. They took my shirt and shoes. I was left with singlet and trousers. But my driver was not so lucky. His clothes, trousers and shoes were taken, he was left with boxer.
“They said I should walk on. When we moved about hundred meters from the car, I was asked to take the left, while my driver was asked to take the right inside the bush. As I journeyed through the bush I was hearing how they were threatening my driver.”
According to him, some minutes thereafter, he started hearing gunshots: “Apparently, the police were around. Later we learnt that Governor Ibikunle Amosun with the state Commissioner of Police, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), led the rescue team. When we couldn’t hear any gunshot again, I trekked back shouting for my driver.”
He said not quite long, he saw a vehicle and its occupants approached him: “I raised up my hands and told them it was my car they took and that I was looking for my driver. They said they were policemen.”
“The leader of the police team, the state Anti-Robbery Squad, they call him TJ, was a wonderful man. This same man, a Muslim approached me and told me that they have heard about what I am doing and that I should not stop, saying God has preserved my life for this purpose.”
Also yesterday the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, explained how Akinola was rescued. He the gunmen were heading towards the border area when they opened fire on a police patrol around Iboro, Yewa North Local Government area:
“We have rescued the former primate, his daughter and driver. But the operation is still ongoing. We have more than 10 teams in the area now trying to find the suspects who escaped with the victims’ vehicle.
“We got information that the suspects went through Ilaro and were heading towards the border area. But when they got to Iboro area, they opened fire at policemen on patrol and the policemen responded. The police pursued them until the victims were rescued.”
Akinola, who was also former President of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), was abducted by gunmen with his driver at Obada, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. He was returning from the Youth Industrial Training Centre, which he established to cater for unemployed youths.
Giving his testimony during the Christmas service at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Obasanjo Hill Top, Abeokuta, Akinola said he never imagined what happened: “What happened yesterday (Tuesday) was what I used to think is drama. A thing that we used to see on the television, until much more later that I realised it was real.
“I left the house at about 11.00 a.m. to go to our site where we are building structure to train young people who are unemployed. As I was coming out of the place where I had gone to give food to our workers for Christmas, as I was stepping out, these two young men came out of their car from nowhere. They asked me to open the door and knocking the glass with their guns.”
The septuagenarian revealed that he instructed his driver, Jonah, who was a bit hesitant to open the door for them:
“As soon as they entered the car, they sandwiched us at the back of the car and drove off. They told us to put our head down and that they will blow off our heads if we look up.
“They drove for about an hour, where we didn’t know until we discovered that we were in the midst of a thick forest. Then I requested to talk and informed them that there was no enough fuel in the car.”
Akinola said the hoodlums queried them for not having enough fuel in the car, while his driver responded that they just returned from a journey:
“In the bush, I was surprised at how they were able to locate a filling station where they bought N3000 fuel and continued with the journey. Thereafter, they started asking questions about dollars of which I said there was none. I told them I was a village pastor that has just retired and that the car was given to me by the church.
“They also asked about the security of the car and I told them there was none. They searched for it for almost two hours, but couldn’t find anything. While this was going on, I was just praying that God of mercy should come to our rescue. I was remembering how God saved some believers in the Bible and I concluded that if I must die, how can it be in the hands of these people?”
He said unknown to them, the news had started circulating around and people had started praying: “Meanwhile, they had taken everything from us. They took my shirt and shoes. I was left with singlet and trousers. But my driver was not so lucky. His clothes, trousers and shoes were taken, he was left with boxer.
“They said I should walk on. When we moved about hundred meters from the car, I was asked to take the left, while my driver was asked to take the right inside the bush. As I journeyed through the bush I was hearing how they were threatening my driver.”
According to him, some minutes thereafter, he started hearing gunshots: “Apparently, the police were around. Later we learnt that Governor Ibikunle Amosun with the state Commissioner of Police, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), led the rescue team. When we couldn’t hear any gunshot again, I trekked back shouting for my driver.”
He said not quite long, he saw a vehicle and its occupants approached him: “I raised up my hands and told them it was my car they took and that I was looking for my driver. They said they were policemen.”
“The leader of the police team, the state Anti-Robbery Squad, they call him TJ, was a wonderful man. This same man, a Muslim approached me and told me that they have heard about what I am doing and that I should not stop, saying God has preserved my life for this purpose.”
Also yesterday the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, explained how Akinola was rescued. He the gunmen were heading towards the border area when they opened fire on a police patrol around Iboro, Yewa North Local Government area:
“We have rescued the former primate, his daughter and driver. But the operation is still ongoing. We have more than 10 teams in the area now trying to find the suspects who escaped with the victims’ vehicle.
“We got information that the suspects went through Ilaro and were heading towards the border area. But when they got to Iboro area, they opened fire at policemen on patrol and the policemen responded. The police pursued them until the victims were rescued.”
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Society
ThankGod He rescued His servant, glory to His name. Bishop pls continue your good works.
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