Some gunmen on Tuesday abducted Rev. Fr. Leo Michael, the presiding priest of Saint Micheal Catholic Church Obajana, and a yet-to-be identified pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The victims were abducted at Irepeni village in the Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Also, a lecturer at the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba, who teaches chemistry in the school, Mr Aronimu Babatunde, was kidnapped along Okene Kabba Road.
It was gathered that Babatunde, had not collected his salary since Governor Yahaya Bello took over almost three years ago.
Bishop Peter Adinoyi, the Diocesan Chancellor of Lokoja Diocese, said, “The abductors came from the bush near the Irepeni village and dragged down Rev Leo Micheal and one other person believed to be a pastor with RCCG and sped off into the bush, leaving the two vehicles parked along the road.”
The bishop stated that the abductors had established contact with some members of the church, adding that they have brought down the ransom from N50m to N8m.
“They threatened to do the worst if their demand is not met,” he added.
The state Police Public Relations officer, ASP Willam Aya, confirmed the abduction of the reverend father but said he was not aware of the abduction of the pastor and the lecturer.
Bishop Adinoyi lamented that abduction had been mostly targeted at poor people, saying insecurity of lives and property got worse by the day.
He called on the government to address the situation to prevent the country from becoming a failed state.