The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has placed a two-million Naira bounty on the kidnappers of a Catholic Priest, Father Emmanuel Akingbade, in Ido-Ekiti.
In a broadcast, Governor Fayose gave residents of the State an assurance that the priest would be rescued, stressing that the incident was a challenge to the state.
He promised that the money would be given to anyone that could provide useful information that would lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.
The governor said plans were underway to rid the state of kidnappers, as he had spoken with the police and the State Security Service to be proactive in getting the kidnapped Reverend father released.
Mr Fayose, who emphasised that the modalities of dealing with kidnapping were different from other criminal activities, appealed to the people not to stage any protest and called for collaborative efforts to ensure prevalent peace in the state.
He confirmed that the kidnappers earlier arrested were still in the police nets, expressing optimism that other kidnappers would be apprehended as soon as possible.
“The issue of kidnap goes beyond political matters. Everyone, irrespective of party affiliations, should team up with the government to deal with the kidnap menace in the state,” Governor Fayose said.
The state helmsman notified 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.
