Gunmen on Tuesday abducted the
immediate past primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Dr. Peter
Akinola in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
It was learnt that Akinola was on his
way from his Youths Empowerment Training Centre along the Lagos – Abeokuta
Expressway when the gunmen overtook and stopped his Sports Utility Van before
taking him and his driver to an unknown place around 3pm.
The bandits, according to one of the
witnesses, shot sporadically into the air to scare passersby away.
He said, “The bishop was unperturbed.
When his driver tried to resist the kidnappers, we saw him instructing him
(driver) to also remain calm.”
As of the time of filing this report,
no contact had been established with the cleric, who is also a former president
of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
The state Police public Relations
Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident but said that it would be too
early for anyone to conclude that it was a case of kidnap.
Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of
police, said, “the fact that gunmen went away with the bishop, his driver and
his vehicle does not connote kidnap”.
He however said that all security
agencies in the state had been placed on the alert following the
incident.
“Our men at the border have been placed
on red alert,” Adejobi added, assuring that the ex-primate and his driver
would be found alive and their vehicle recovered.
The incident drew immediate
condemnation from the Christian community which called for Akinola’s immediate
release.
The President, Christian Association
of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, pleaded with the kidnappers to release
Akinola unconditionally.
Oritsejafor, who spoke through his
media aide, Kenny Ashaka, said the incident, was sad, unfortunate and
unacceptable
The Director of Social
Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu,
said, “This is a very sad incident, especially during this season of joy and
happiness. It is so sad because of the calibre of the person involved, a
religious leader, a peaceful and elderly citizen.
“Whoever is involved in this kidnap
has no reason whatsoever for this; there is no justification. We pray that God
touches the hearts of his captors to release Akinola without harm.”
Osu added that the abduction of the
former Prelate “ goes to show how life has become so cheap in the country.”
Lamenting the security
situation in the country, he said, “I urge our security agencies to wake up and
rescue Akinola. The kidnappers should also not be treated with kid gloves. The
root cause of all this is poverty.”
Also, the Pastor-in-Charge of
the Victory Life Bible Church, Apostle Lawrence Achudume , called for the
immediate release of Akinola.
Achudume, who expressed shock at the
news of the kidnap , appealed to the gunmen to set
Akinola free immediately.
The cleric said that such a heinous crime
should not even be heard of.
Achudume said, “It is appalling. I’m
shocked, that’s a very bad omen. It should not even be heard of in Abeokuta,
Ogun State. I’m highly shocked. Those who did that should release him
immediately.”
Akinola’s abduction is one of
the latest high profile cases in the country.
On August 24, 2013, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human
rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, was kidnapped in Edo State. He was
released three weeks after his family had paid a ransom.
However, the Commissioner of Police,
Ogun State Command, Ikemefuna Okoye, said that Akinola had regained his
freedom.
Tags
Society
This wickedness is gradually but fastly spreading. This may soon replace armed robbery as it is more lucrative. When will our Government come out with hard but implementable laws on kidnapping?
ReplyDeleteI can confirm that the bishop has been released.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 1;25 has released him ,
ReplyDelete