Kidnappers abduct Anglican bishop of Jebba and his wife demanding hefty ransom for his release

NIGERIA'S ongoing insecurity took a major turn for the worse over the weekend when the Anglican Communion Bishop of Jebba Diocese Rt Rev Oluwaseun Aderogba and his wife were kidnapped by terrorists yesterday.

Over recent years, kidnapping has grown into a thriving industry across Nigeria, with heavily armed kidnapers abducting people on a daily basis across the country. Heavy ransom fees are paid for the release of these victims and as the industry has grown, the hoodlums have become more brazen and daring in their operations.

Yesterday evening, Reverend Aderogba and his wife were abducted along the Ogbomoso-Oyo Road in Oyo State. However, the Bishop’s chaplain who was with the victims when they were kidnapped managed to escape from the ambush.

 He said: “We were travelling from Jebba to Oyo but when we were a few kilometres to Oyo, our vehicle developed a fault. My Lord bishop called the Lord bishop of Oyo Bishop Aladekugbe for help.

 “However, before help could come, some armed men surrounded and ordered them into the bush. I was lucky as they didn’t see me because of my black cassock. I fell flat on my belly to hide myself while they marched my bishop and his wife deep into the forest.”

Later on, Bishop Aladekugbe alerted the leadership of the church, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba and other members of the house of bishops. After some hours, the abductors got in touch with the church through the wife of the bishop, demanding a N50m ($120,500) ransom before they would release the duo.