Matilda Omonaiye/
Clergymen appear to have become the targets of kidnappers, barely two weeks after N100million ransom was paid to release the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, a Bishop, and a Chaplain.
According to the police, gunmen have abducted Rev. Fr. James Kantoma, the Parish priest of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Angware, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau.
Another gang reportedly abducted Bishop Oluwaseun Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State, his wife, and his driver along the new Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway.
The Police in Kogi also confirmed the abduction of three missionaries by gunmen in the state. They identified the missionaries as Evangelist Peter Adigidzi; Pastor Mike Baba and Pastor Sunday Abah, all working with Child Evangelical Fellowship (CEF) in Lokoja.
The State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, who confirmed the incident in Lokoja said they got a report from the Children Evangelism Ministry that three missionaries were on Friday abducted.
The Kogi Coordinator of CEM, Evangelist Charles Esho, said that the victims were on an assignment at Ejule Community in Ofu Local Government Area of the state when the incident occurred.
Plateau Police Spokesman, DSP Alabo Alfred, confirmed the Jos incident.
Alfred said that Kantoma, who is also the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the local government, was kidnapped on Sunday night at the church’s vicarage.
He said police authorities had deployed officers from the anti-kidnapping unit to the community.
“Our men are already working to ensure that the cleric regains his freedom and apprehend those behind the abduction,” DSP Alfred said.
Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo, the Chairman of CAN in the state, described the incident as “unfortunate and sad”.
He said, “Since the gunmen took the priest away, we have not heard anything either from him or the abductors.
“This is so sad, but we are praying for him that no harm will befall him wherever he is.”
Lubo called on government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted priest and others in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Police authorities in Oyo State, have announced a manhunt for the abductors of Bishop Oluwaseun Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State, his wife, and driver.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed this in a statement today.
Aderogba, his wife, and his driver were kidnapped on Sunday, at about 9.00 p.m. on New Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway.
The bishop’s chaplain, who was with the victims when the incident happened, said their vehicle developed a fault a few kilometers to Oyo when they were traveling from Ogun State to Jebba, when the bandits appeared from the bush and surrounded them.
He said that he was lucky because he was not visible because of his black cassock and fell flat on the ground to hide while the abductors marched the bishop, wife, and driver to the bush.
The PPRO said that preliminary investigations revealed that the victim’s vehicle allegedly developed a mechanical fault, while traveling from Yewa, Ogun State to Jebba, Kwara State, en route to an isolated area on New Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway.
He said that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations of the Command oversaw the rescue operation that began at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Osifeso said that all the tactical teams of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Ambush Squad, Puff Adder, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and Conventional Police personnel, along with local hunters and vigilantes, were all involved in the rescue operations.
He added that discreet investigation led by the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) was simultaneously being vigorously embarked upon, to ensure that the victims were rescued unhurt.
He enjoined members of the public to report any suspicious movement to the nearest Police Station.
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