Ex-Anglican primate, Dr. Peter Akinola
Gunmen on Tuesday abducted the immediate past primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Dr. Peter Akinola in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Our correspondent 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.
On September 6, the Archbishop of Niger Delta Province of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, and his wife, Beatrice, were kidnapped by gunmen on their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Less than a month after, Mrs Augusta Douglas-Ayam, the elder sister of Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, was abducted in Ogbia, Bayelsa State.
On November 18, gunmen kidnapped Chief Tempurah Nelson, the 78-year-old father of Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism Development, Chief Belief Nelson,also in Bayelsa State
A frontline industrialists in Osun State, Mrs. Olayinka Obaleye, popularly known as Yinka Oba, was kidnapped in Ilesa, Osun State on November 20.
Barely 11 days after, Miss Julie Harry, the daughter of the former Vice-Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, the late Marshal Harry, was kidnapped about 100 metres away from her residence in Eleparanwo, Rivers State and released after her family had parted with N2m.
However, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Ikemefuna Okoye, said that Akinola had regained his freedom.
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