Two Nigerian pastors have been abducted this month in Kogi
state, as kidnapping cartels that have plagued the central state the past three
years directed their aim at Christian leaders.
In a departure from numerous kidnappings of high-profile
business and government leaders in Kogi state since 2013, gunmen abducted
pastor David Onubedo of Deeper Life Bible Church on Monday night (Jan. 25) in
Okene after a Bible study, according to local reports. In the same state in
Emi-Oworo village, U.S. missionary Phyllis Sortor was kidnapped on Feb. 23,
2015, and not released until March 6.
“Pastor David Onubedo is a serving minister at a parish of
the church in the city of Kebbi, northwest Nigeria, and was only visiting his
hometown of Okene when he was kidnapped yesterday as he was returning to his
home after attending evening Bible studies in the church here in Okene at about
9 p.m.,” a church member who requested anonymity told Morning Star News.
In Lokoja, capital of Kogi state, gunmen on Jan. 10
kidnapped pastor Ayo Raphael during a worship service of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God (RCCG) Resurrection parish, sources said. Masked gunmen disrupted
the service and took the pastor away at gunpoint, a member of the congregation
told Morning Star News on condition of anonymity.
“The gunmen attacked the church while Pastor Ayo was
preaching,” the member said. “They ordered us to lie down and close our eyes as
they shot into the air and dragged our pastor away at gunpoint.”
The kidnappers of the Pentecostal pastor are also demanding
50 million naira (US$249,000) for his release, the source said.
William Aya, spokesman for the Kogi State Police Command,
confirmed the kidnapping of the pastor to Morning Star News.
In the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria, gunmen on
Sunday (Jan. 24) shot and wounded a pastor during an Anglican church service in
the course of kidnapping a member of the congregation, sources said.
The Rev. Obata Ezekiel was delivering a sermon at the church
in Igbedi, Bayelsa state, when the gunmen stormed the service at about 12:40
p.m., shot him and kidnapped engineer Dunkan Eke.
“Our parish priest, the Rev. Obata, is currently in the
hospital where he’s being treated for bullet wounds,” a member of the parish told
Morning Star News by phone.
Asinim Butswat, spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police
Command, confirmed the shooting of the Anglican priest and the kidnapping of
the parishioner.
“We are on the trail
of the unknown gunmen, and we are assuring the public that we shall try to
ensure that those who carried out this attack are arrested and brought to
book,” Butswat told Morning Star News in a text message. “The injured victim is
responding to treatment at a clinic in Polaku. Efforts have been intensified to
rescue the victim and arrest the abductors.”
Organized crime syndicates carried out numerous kidnappings
in oil-rich Bayelsa state in 2015, where widespread poverty is a stark backdrop
to well-off people involved in drilling and other oil-production activities.
Many kidnappings are aimed at those in the industry.
Regarding the kidnapping of Onubedo in Kogi state, the
Deeper Life Bible Church sent a text message throughout Nigeria urging fervent
prayer for his release.
“Please, begin to pray and send prayer request to others for
the release of Pastor Onubedo, a state overseer in Deeper Life Ministry who was
reportedly kidnapped at his residence immediately after the Bible Study tonight
[Monday],” the message reads. “The pastor wants us to immediately enter prayer
closets both as individuals, families and in groups for his immediate and safe
release.”
Source: Christian Headlines
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