Suspected gunmen have kidnaped the parish priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Obajana, Kogi State, Rev. Fr. Leo Michael, demanding an N8 million ransom.
The Diocesan Chancellor of the Lokoja Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Peter Adinoyi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Lokoja, Thursday, disclosed that the priest was returning to Obajana from Okene when he was abducted at Irepeni Village, Okene -Lokoja road.
Adinoyi who said the matter was promptly reported at the Irepeni Police State, also disclosed that the army and the Directorate of the State Security (DSS), were also aware of the development.
[penci_blockquote style=”style-2″ align=”none” author=””]According to him, the kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N20 million and further reduced it to N8 million.[/penci_blockquote]
The Chancellor, however, said that the kidnappers on July 25 called some members of the church to demand a N50 million ransom for the release of their priest.
According to him, the kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N20 million and further reduced it to N8 million.
Adinoyi who decried the incessant kidnapping of the less privileged in the state, revealed that the kidnappers gave the church up till 1:p.m. of July 26, to pay the ransom, threatening to relocate the priest should the church fail to meet the deadline.
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He said that the church was unable to meet the deadline for the payment of the ransom demanded, calling on the security agents to assist in rescuing the cleric from his abductors.
Kogi State Police Command spokesman, DSP William Aya, when contacted, said that he was not aware of the incident.