Gun-wielding hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen, on Sunday, abducted a Methodist Church priest, Very Reverend Kayode Akande, and two other prominent leaders of the church on their way from Ile-Ogbo, a community near Iwo township in Osun State.

They were said to have been whisked away by the herdsmen, along Iwo-Osogbo road around 7.10 pm as they were coming back to Osogbo, the state capital.

Speaking to journalists over the incident, one of the priests in the church said Methodist Presbyter, Very Rev Kayode Akande, and two other church leaders, identified as one Mr. Bankole, who is an engineer and Mr Omodunbi were kidnapped when they were returning from Ile-Ogbo after their vehicles were forcefully stopped by the hoodlums.

The priest, who spoke under the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the development explained that “the three people were returning to Osogbo from Ile Ogbo when the Fulani herdsmen took them away. They went for a meeting and they were on their way back to Osogbo when they were waylaid by the hoodlums.”

According to him, “the criminals released others and the two cars in which they were travelling and took away the three of them. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye was contacted and he acted promptly”.

“Policemen were deployed on the road immediately and they have been combing the bushes and I just pray they would get these people quickly. We are all praying to God so that these hoodlums would not harm these people”, he disclosed.

The alleged abduction was also confirmed by the Bishop of Methodist Church, Osogbo Diocese, Most Reverend Amos Ogunrinde, when he was informed about the incident.

When contacted, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye told the Tribune Online to get across to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Osun State Police command, Mrs Folasade Odoro over the incident. (Tribune)