Abducted cleric in Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria, likely to be found before nightfall, according to the police.
Police have said they were on the trail of the abductors of a pastor who was whisked away on Monday, May 10 from his church premises located at Irese town, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria.
Tee-Leo Ikoro, spokesperson of the Ondo State Police command, who confirmed the abduction, told HumAngle about a rescue mission being underway in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.
“It is confirmed, Pastor Mayomi Ogedengbe was kidnapped last night in his church by a gang of hoodlums who entered the church premises in a black Toyota and whisked him away,” Ikoro informed HumAngle.
He added that Bolaji Salami, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, had upon the abduction of the pastor, immediately ordered police officers and other tactical teams in the axis to go after the armed kidnappers.
“He also sought the assistance of vigilantes, civil defense, Amotekun, and even the military for his rescue. I do hope that he will be found before nightfall,” the spokesperson said.
Ogedengbe, a Deeper Life pastor, is formerly a director in the Ondo State Ministry Of Education.
The intent behind his kidnap is yet to be known as his abductors have neither contacted his family nor the state government.
The Southwest region, like other regions in Nigeria has in recent times seen an increase in crime rate.
Following the increase, the six governors of the Southwest states established Amotekun, a regional security outfit, saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the Southwest region.
The security outfit was launched in January 2020.
Since its establishment, the security outfit has made several arrests, aimed at eliminating crime in the region, including the arrest of one Iskilu Wakili, who was later remanded in a correctional facility for alleged kidnapping and murder.
But according to a Premium Times analysis in March, the regional security outfit has not done much to curb the rate of abductions in the state, as kidnappings and killings are still rampant in the region.
Source: HumAngle