Gunmen Kidnap Kwara Anglican Bishop, Wife, Abduct Plateau CAN Chairman
Gunmen have abducted Rev.Oluwaseun Aderogba, the Anglican bishop of Jebba Diocese in Kwara State, his wife and driver along the new Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway, Oyo state.
The incident reportedly occurred around 8:30pm on Sunday.
Oyo police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement on Monday, said investigations revealed that abduction took place after the cleric’s vehicle developed a mechanical fault at an isolated area along Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway while the victims were heading for Jebba from Yewa, Ogun state.
Osifeso said the command has mobilised its officers, local hunters and vigilantes to carry out rescue operations.
“On Sunday 12/06/2022 at about 2100HRS, One Rev. Adekunle Adeluwa reported to the command at Atiba Divisional Police Headquarters, Oyo town that at about 2030HRS, One Bishop Rt. Rev Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State in the company of his wife and driver were abducted,” the police spokesperson said.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the victim’s vehicle developed what seemed a mechanical fault while traveling from Yewa, Ogun State to Jebba, Kwara state enroute an isolated area along new Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations of the Command is in charge of the rescue operation has commenced since 2100HRS of Sunday 12/06/2022.
“All the tactical teams of the command 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 are all involved in the rescue operations.
“Meanwhile, the discreet investigation led by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is simultaneously being vigorously embarked upon to ensure that the victims are rescued unhurt.”
In May, Samuel Kanu, prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria (MCN), was kidnapped by gunmen in Abia state. The cleric was released 24 hours later after the payment of N100 million ransom.
Meanwhile, a Catholic priest in charge of St Anthony’s Parish, Angware community in the Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev James Kantoma, who is also the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the council area, has been kidnapped by gunmen.
It was gathered that Kantoma was abducted at his house in the community by the gunmen on Sunday night.
A resident of Angware community, Silas Joshua, confirmed the cleric’s abduction to in Jos on Monday .
Joshua said, “When the gunmen arrived the community at night, they moved straight to the house of the Reverend Father.
“Some youths in the area, who were alerted, tried to stop and even gave them a hot chase into the bush but the gunmen started shooting everywhere and eventually took the Reverend Father away.”
The State Chairman of CAN, Polycarp Lubo, also confirmed the abduction of the cleric, describing the incident as sad.
Lubo said, “Since the gunmen took the Reverend Father away, we have not heard anything either from him or the abductors up till this morning. This is so sad. But we are praying for him that no harm will befall him wherever he is. But for how long shall innocent citizens continue to be kidnapped or abducted without anything being done to address the problem?”
