Pastor, Four Others Kidnapped In Ekiti

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There was panic in Ekiti State yesterday when suspected kidnappers abducted five persons including a pastor along a major road in Ise Ekiti, headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area.

The latest incident occurred barely two days after the Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Barr. Muslim Omoleke was kidnapped in Iwaraja community in neighbouring Osun State along with his driver and child.

Omoleke, who was abducted on Thursday, was released later on Friday.

The driver and the child had earlier been released same day they were seized but the INEC chief spent another 24 hours in the den of kidnappers.

Sources informed yesterday that the pastor whose name was given as Ojo, his driver, Jimoh and three other persons inside the same vehicle were seized at a location on the outskirts of Ise.

Family sources said the whereabouts of the victims remained unknown at the time of filing this report.

Their abductors had not established contact with the family to demand any ransom.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the incident in a telephone chat.

He stated that two of the victims had been recovered while three others are still in the kidnappers’ den.

Adeyemi said the police are still on the trail of the hoodlums to ensure that they are rescued alive and returned to their families.

He called on residents to always volunteer information to the police to assist in fishing out criminals and ensure safety of the law-abiding citizens.

Adeyemi said the men of the state command are closing in on perpetrators of an attack on Ido Ekiti Police station on October 14 during which an inspector on duty was murdered in cold blood.

The gunmen, numbering about 40, had attacked the police station at about 7.30pm with explosive devices and headed straight to the armoury where arms and ammunition were reported to have been carted away.

Adeyemi said investigations have reached advanced stage with enough clues as to the whereabouts of the criminal gang already gathered.

He said: “This is a very unfortunate incident. But we are pleased with the level of investigations that have been conducted by our officers.

“We are getting enough clues and I can reliably inform you that we are closing in on them.

“I want to say that very soon these criminals will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”