The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has promised N2 million compensation to anyone that could provide useful information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen that abducted Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, in Ido Ekiti on Tuesday.
Fayose described the kidnapping of the priest as a challenge to the state.
He said efforts were on to free him.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelus, quoted Fayose as stating this in a broadcast to the people of the state.
He said plans were underway to rid the state of kidnappers, adding that he had spoken with the police and the Department of State Services to be proactive in getting the kidnapped cleric released.
Fayose, who emphasized that the modalities of dealing with kidnapping were different from other criminal activities, appealed to the people of the state to shun staging protests.
He said all hands must be on deck to ensure peace in the state.
He said the kidnappers earlier arrested were still in the police nets, promising that those on the run would be apprehended as soon as possible.
According to him, the issue of kidnap goes beyond political matters.
He called on everyone, irrespective of party affiliations, to team up with the government to deal with the menace in the state.
Fayose notified the people of the state of the necessity of police checking vehicles at strategic points across the state, with an appeal to residents to bear with whatever inconveniences the action may cause.