Lagos – Gunmen have abducted a Nigerian cleric in Lagos State, a local newspaper reported, citing sources.
Oluwatosin Alayo, the Shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ, Nazareth Parish 1 in the Ikorodu area of the state, was reportedly kidnapped on Monday evening at the residence of the cleric in the Adamo area of the community, barely 24 hours after the church held its annual adult harvest, causing the church to raise the alarm on its various social media platforms, while also calling for prayers.
“A CCC Shephard has been kidnapped and now they’re demanding N30m as ransom. Your prayer is highly needed,” one of the posts read.
“Kidnapping notice: Snr. Evang. Adeyemi Oluwatosin Alayo, Shepherd in charge of CCC Nazareth Parish, Adamo Agunfoye, was kidnapped on Monday, a day after his 21st Adult harvest. Kidnappers are demanding N30m. Please, let’s remember him and his parish in prayers,” another post read.
A member of the church who craved anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident told The Punch newspaper: “We called to congratulate him (the cleric) on the success of the church harvest on Monday evening but could not reach him on the phone. It was the following morning that another member of the church informed us that his home was attacked on Monday evening by some gunmen who took him away to an unknown destination. We are in serious panic and we have also intensified prayers for his safety and freedom.”
Another member of the church who identified himself simply as Taiwo, said that the abductors had opened communication with the family of the victim, demanding a ransom of ₦30 million ($18,030).
“Details of the communication are still unclear, but we got to know that 24 hours after the incident, the kidnappers confirmed the Shepherd’s presence in their captivity and also demanded a ransom of N30m. That is all we know for now,” Taiwo added.
Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident but denied knowledge of the ransom demanded.
“I can confirm that he was kidnapped. I cannot confirm the ransom demand,” Hundeyin said.
– Insecurity and violence in Nigeria –
For more than a decade, civilians in Nigeria have faced multiple security threats and risk of atrocities as result of attacks, kidnappings and extortion by various non-state armed groups.
Since the start of 2024 civilians have faced intensified violence across Nigeria, and near-daily attacks by armed groups resulting in kidnappings and other abuses against civilians.
Armed groups and gangs, including so-called “bandits,” have – for many years – perpetrated widespread atrocities, including murder, rape, kidnapping, organized cattle-rustling and plunder. Armed herdsmen are also destroying vast swaths of farmland, prompting many farmers to abandon their land out of fear of attack.
In August, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said insecurity in Nigeria is weaponised by politicians for political and selfish reasons.
A Nigerian soldier, Suleiman S., also alleged that the government’s practice of paying ransoms to terrorists – dubbed as bandits in the country was hindering the military’s ability to effectively combat them.
He urged the public to redirect their blame from the Nigerian Army to the government, emphasising that soldiers are constrained by orders and cannot take independent action.
The soldier said the military has the capability to eradicate bandits, particularly in hotspots like Zamfara State forest within a week if given the necessary orders.
He expressed frustration that the military’s potential is being wasted due to a lack of direction from leadership, whom he accused of profiting from the ongoing crisis.
He cited the assassination of a Sokoto State monarch, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa as an example of a coordinated plan by certain individuals or groups to perpetuate insecurity.
Speaking when he appeared on Voice of The People FM, Sowore alleged that government officials have links with the criminals, using them to gain power and later protecting them.
He explained that this is why it is hard for the country to make any meaningful progress in the fight against terrorism and banditry.