Two pastors have been killed in different areas and circumstances within Ondo State in the last 24 hours.
While suspected kidnappers killed a Pastor and abducted three commuters who were travelling in a commercial vehicle along Owo/Ikare Road in Akoko South West Local Government Areas, another cleric, Pastor Deji Joshua, was killed by suspected armed robbers in Okitipupa in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.
Joshua, a cleric with the Goodnews Baptist Church, Igbegunrin in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, was shot dead by suspected armed robbers on Monday night.
Joshua, who was travelling on his motorcycle, was killed on his way to his home in Okitipupa, headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state
According to sources, the Baptist cleric was on his motorcycle when the suspected robbers attacked him around Ode-Aye and shot him at close range before taking his motorcycle away.
The earlier incident occurred when the Pastor and other commuters took off from Ikare, headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area and were heading to Akure, the state capital, when they were seized at Ose-Oba axis of the road.
According to the source, the Pastor, who confronted the gunmen, was shot on the head.
He was left in the pool of his blood.
He was said to have died before he could get the hospital.
The suspected kidnappers have contacted the families of the other victims and demanded a ransom of N10 million from each of them.
The families are said to be negotiating with the kidnappers.
They were said to have reduced the ransom fee to N1 million per person.
Reacting to the incidences, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. John Ayo Oladapo, called on the security agencies in the state to fish out the killers of the Baptist cleric and the other Pastor who was shot on his way to Akure.
Oladapo said: “We are saddened by the incident and we are imploring the police and other security agents to fish out the killers and bring them to book.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incidences, said the ugly incident occurred around 11:30pm on Monday.
Joseph said the police command has been trying to unravel those behind the killing.
He said: “When we heard about the incident, our men moved to the scene and we saw bullet wounds on his body.
“We will conduct an autopsy to know the actual cause of the death.”
On the killing along Owo/Ikare Road, Joseph said investigation has begun.
He said policemen were combing the whole area, assuring that the culprits would be apprehended soon.
. New Telegraph.