Methodist Pastor Kidnaps Self, Nabbed Trying to Collect N3M Ransom

Tunji Buhari tunji
Tunji Buhari tunji

Police have arrested a clergyman in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital for allegedly organising his own kidnap.

It was gathered that the clergyman, identified as Rev. Adewuyi Adegoke, also arranged with a 25-year-old accomplice, identified as Oluwadare Sunday, to demand N3million ransom from his congregation.

The suspect, who is the Minister in charge of a popular Orthodox Church in Ado-Ekiti, reportedly vanished on Sunday evening while purportedly travelling between Ese-Oke in Osun State and Aramoko-Ekiti on his way to Ado-Ekiti.

His purported abductors later contacted the church members to demand a ransom, which they insisted must be paid latest by Thursday to prevent the Reverend from being killed.

Detectives, however, intercepted the pastor’s accomplice who came to collect the ransom today in Okeyinmi area of Ado-Ekiti, after which he led them to the hotel where the pastor had been holding up.

It was further learnt that the arrested suspected accomplice was tracked by detectives through a mobile phone that he was using to make contact.

When contacted, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Amba Asuquo, confirmed to NewsmakersNG that the command is investigating an incident closely related to the story but declined to confirm the identities of the suspects in the command’s custody.

His words: “Yes there is something close to that, but we are still investigating and will come out with the details later.”

When asked if the Reverend is among the suspects in custody, the CP said: “I know we have some suspects in custody in connection with the incident but I cannot reveal their identities to you now.”

Rev Adegoke, right, with his accomplice, Adewole Oluwadare Sunday

Rev Adegoke, right, with his alleged accomplice, Adewole Oluwadare Sunday, in police net

When the story of the clergy’s kidnap broke yesterday, several members of his congregation took to social media to solicit support towards his rescue.

One of such posts by one Awoyemi Matthew on the Facebook page of the victim read: “People of GOD. everywhere. please let us raise prayer altars for this vibrant servant of GOD. REV Adewuyi Adegoke. who was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen recently between Ekiti and Osun state.”

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