Thelma Osatohanmwen
A 19-year-old girl and boyfriend have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a pastor in Edo State.
According to state’s commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, the young woman, who claims to be an undergraduate, was part of a gang that targeted the pastor of a local church.
She approached the pastor’s house in tears, pretending to be the wife of a church member and pleading for help and her ruse convinced the pastor to open the gate, at which point other members of the gang stormed in, brandishing firearms and abducting the pastor at gunpoint.
“She was crying that she needed help from the pastor, that they should please open the gate for her and that she is the wife of one of the church members. That is the lie she told the pastor. As soon as the pastor opened the door for her, other members of the kidnapping group hijacked the pastor at gunpoint and took the man away,” CP Adegboye recounted.
While speaking with newsmen, he emphasized the importance of parental vigilance, urging parents to closely monitor their children’s activities and the company they keep.
He revealed that the suspect claimed she saw one of the gang members handing a gun to her boyfriend, whom she alleged was the one who drew her into the criminal enterprise.
“It is quite unfortunate that a 19-year-old girl is involved in such a crime. People should be careful about the kind of friendships they maintain,” Adegboye warned.
During her interrogation, the suspect denied knowledge of the kidnapping plot and claimed she was coerced into participating in the crime by her boyfriend.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to apprehend the remaining members of the gang and bring them to justice.