Three persons including a reverend father, Leo Michael, and yet to be identified pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a lecturer with the Kogi State College of Education (Technical Kabba), Mr Samuel Aronimu, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
While the two priests were abducted along Lokoja-Okene road, the lecturer was kidnapped along Kabba-Okene road.
Michael, who is the presiding priest of Saint Michael Catholic Church, Obajana, was abducted on Tuesday evening at Irepeni village in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi state.
Babatunde it was gathered, was on his way to Lokoja for further verification exercise, as he has not received his salary for several months because of the alleged issues he had with the exercise.
According to the diocesan Chancellor of Lokoja Diocese, Bishop Peter Adinoyi, the abductors came from the bush near the Irepeni village very close to a roadblock mounted by men of the Nigerian Army.
He explained that the abductors appeared on the highway in a commando style and dragged Michael along with RCCG pastor sped off into the bush leaving the two vehicles belonging to the victims along the road.
The Bishop stated that the abductors had established contact with some members of the Church and demanded an initial N50m ransom.
He, however, said they had brought down the ransom down to N8m, threatening to wait for the worst if their demand is not met before 1 pm Thursday.
The clergyman lamented that abductions were mostly targeted at the poor people, saying security of lives and properties of the people could no longer be guaranteed.
He called on the state government to quickly address the ugly situation to prevent the country from becoming a failed state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, who confirmed the abduction of the Reverend father, said the command not aware of the abduction of the other pastor and the lecturer.
Credit: Tribune
