By Dare Akogun
Kidnappers have abducted the Anglican Bishop of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State, Rt. Rev Oluwaseun Aderogba, and his wife along Ilorin-Ogbomoso expressway on Sunday night.
His driver was also said to have been kidnapped alongside the couple who were traveling on the new Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway in Oyo State.
Confirming the abduction today in a statement the Police Public Relations Officer of Oyo state command, Adewale Osifeso said the bishop and his wife were said to be traveling to Kwara State when their car developed a fault at a lonely section of the road at around 8:30pm on Sunday and gunmen descended on them and took them away.
According to the statement “On Sunday 12/06/2022 at about 2100HRS, One Rev. Adekunle Adeluwa reported to the Command through an incidented report at Atiba Divisional Police Headquarters, Oyo town that at about 2030hours , One Bishop Rt. Rev Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State in the company of his wife and driver were abducted.
“Preliminary investigations reveals 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 that 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, Counter Terrorism Unit, and Conventional Police personnel along with local hunters and vigilantes are all involved in the rescue operations,” the statement added.
Onifeso added that their abductors have demanded a ransom of N50 million to free their captives, saying the command had swung into action to free the captives and arrest the criminals.
Meanwhile the Kwara Province of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has condemned in strong term, the kidnap of the Bishop of Jebba Diocese Reverend Oluseye Aderogba.
Arch Bishop of the Province, His Grace, The Most Rev Israel O. Amoo in a statement made available to newsmen today in Ilorin bemoaned the incessant killing, abduction and outright kidnap of innocent Nigerians in the country.
He called on President, Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to work towards the immediate and unconditional release of the kidnapped Bishop.
