Kidnapped Methodist clergy, two others ‘ll be rescued soon ―Aregbesola

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital raised the hope of the public on the fate of the abducted Methodist Church clergy, Very Reverend Kayode Akande and two others, simply identified as Mr Bankole and Mr Omodunbi, assuring that they would be rescued soon.

He also assured that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of law by the appropriate authorities.

Aregbesola gave the assurance while receiving in audience the country director of African Development Bank (ADB), Mr Abrima Faal at the Government House, Oke Fia.

Describing the kidnap of the clergy and two other prominent members of the church as unexpected and sudden, the governor contended that Osun remains one of the most secure states in Nigeria despite the incident.

However, on Monday, the Bishop of Osogbo diocese, Most Reverend Amos Ogunrinde informed some journalists that security agents, comprising Policemen and local vigilante operatives were intensifying their search of the forest, located along Osogbo- Iwo expressway to rescue victims from the den of kidnappers, suspected to be armed herdsmen.

As of the time of filing this report, the abducted clergy and two others have not been found.

It would be recalled that the trio was allegedly kidnapped around 7.10 pm on Sunday night while returning to Osogbo from a meeting held in Ile-Ogbo, a community near Iwo, in Osun State.

One of the priests, who spoke under the condition of anonymity explained that “the three people were returning to Osogbo from Ile Ogbo when the Fulani herdsmen took them away. They went for a meeting and they were on their way back to Osogbo when they were waylaid by the hoodlums