December 08, (THEWILL) – Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Catholic Priest in Ondo State.
The 49-year-old priest, Reverend Father Joseph Ajayi, was kidnapped along the Akure-Ikere highway.
A family source told newsmen that the incident happened on Monday.
Ajayi, who was travelling from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State in his Toyota Corolla to his parish, St Peter Claver in Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, was intercepted by his abductors.
“He was on his way to Ilara-Mokin where his parish is situated before he was attacked and taken away by yet-to-be-identified persons to an undisclosed location. His vehicle was abandoned at the spot where they took him”, the source said.
The priest was reportedly traveling alone when he was waylaid by his abductors.
Confirming the incident, the Catholic Diocese of Ondo through the Bishop of the Diocese, Jude Arogundade, Rev. Fr. Victor Ibiyemi, on Tuesday evening said the abductors had contacted the church, demanding the sum of N20 million ransom.
“We are on it since morning. They have contacted the church, demanding N20 million”, the Bishop confirmed.
The Ondo Police Command has not issued any statement on the incident. Efforts to speak to the police image-maker in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami was unsuccessful as she did not pick nor return calls made to her mobile phone.
