Catholic church warns against financial negotiation with priest’s kidnappers

The Catholic Diocese of Ekiti on Friday warned members of the public not to enter into any commercial negotiation with the abductors of Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, a priest of the diocese.

The cleric was abducted from the Mission House at Ido Ekiti on Tuesday by three gunmen around 7.30pm.

Neither the family nor the Church has been able to establish contact with the abducted priest.

The church on Thursday held a mass to seek divine intervention and the timely release of Fr. Akingbade, who is also the Parish Priest of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ido Ekiti, and others kept in captivity by kidnappers across the country.

It was gathered that the captors had been calling unsuspecting members of the public using Fr. Akingbade’s mobile phone to raise money for his release..

The abductors had earlier demanded N20 million from the priest while taking him away on the fateful day.

In his sermon at the mass held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado Ekiti and celebrated by the Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, Rev.Fr. Clement Ogunlusi appealed to the captors to release the priest and others held in captivity unconditionally without further delay.

Ogunlusi, who decried the poor state of security across the country, however, urged the people not to abuse or curse the captors but to pray for them for change of heart.

He said: “The security in our country today is nothing to write home about.

“Even soldiers and police are afraid, not to talk about we the poor masses.

“But we appeal to you to pray for them, don’t abuse or curse them.

“These people have continued to threaten the peace of this country.

“If we continue to curse them, we make them more hardened and they do more harm to the country.

“So, let’s pray for them for God to touch their hearts.

“They are human beings like us.”

Ogunkusi admonished members of the public not to harbour criminals but to expose those with criminal tendencies in order to reduce crimes in the country.

Ogunlusi lamented that negative reports about the country were doing more damage than good.

At the mass were the Bishop Emeritus of the diocese, Most Rev. Olatunji Fagun; Rev. Sisters; priests; and parishioners.