Reverend Hosea Akuchi, a pastor of a Baptist Church, Guguwa, Nasira, Igabi local government area of Kaduna state, has been killed by gunmen while attempting to resist abduction.
It is understood that moments after killing the cleric, the suspected bandits abducted his wife, Mrs. Talatu Hosea Akuchi, and placed a N5 million ransom on her head.
A source in the troubled area had said the attackers invaded the church premises at about 1:00a.m. on Monday and forced their way into the apartment of the clergyman, shot him and took away his wife.
Yesterday, the source said:
“The abductors said we need to pay them N5 million before they can release her to us.”
“They call a family phone line to tell us that heartless talk after killing the reverend in cold blood.
“How can this injustice continue in a country like Nigeria without any serious measures in place to check the activities of these people.”
“You can imagine that they now have the gut to walk into people’s home, kill and abduct and also have an effrontery to demand for ransom. Where and how can we get that money?”
“How can we become prisoners in our own country as law abiding citizens?”
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kaduna Police Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo said that the clergyman was shot while struggling with attackers whose intention may be to abduct him.
“In the early hours of this morning, information reaching us that some armed men storm the house of Reverend Hosea and attempted to kidnap him,” he said.
“But after struggling with them, they shot him and took away his wife. It is quite unfortunate that while we are keeping the peace we are enjoying in Kaduna, some criminals are doing this to sabotage our collective efforts.
“We have visited the scene of the unfortunate incident and we are trying our best to get to the root of this incident and as soon as we get more information, I will get back to you”
However, Sabo, who earlier confirmed the killing of the reverend, told newsmen that no ransom was placed on the abducted woman.
According to him “The assertion that a ransom is been placed on the women is not true. This rumour of N5 million has started going wild, even before establishing contact with them.”
“Investigation is still in progress and if there is any updates regarding the incident, it will be made known to the press,” the PPRO added.
