VAM News update

THE Ogun state So-Safe Corps, has admitted killing Adeniyi Adisa, a pastor who was mistaken to be a kidnapper during a shoot-out with suspected kidnappers on July 1, 2023.

According to reports, some gunmen raided a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Abule-Ori in the state’s Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, killing a pastor and kidnapping seven members.

While confirming the incidence on Monday, the Commander of the Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo stated that one of the kidnappers was killed and the seven church members were rescued by his officers.

However, Ganzallo has admitted that, the group of thugs who attacked the Redeemed Church had also abducted Adisa, from a separate location.

Adisa, pastor of the Latter Rain Revival Christian Church in Olaogun, Ibadan, Oyo State, was abducted on June 24 while returning from a visit to a friend in Yotomi, Owode Egba, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State.

Ganzallo cleared the air about the controversy at the Corps’ headquarters in Abeokuta, alongside the slain Pastor’s two wives, Mrs Temilade Adisa and Mrs Bukola Adisa; their two children, Mr Adeyemi Adisa and Mrs Adewunmi Adelaja, and the deceased’s maternal cousin, Chief Muiz Adegboyega Akande, who also led the family delegation.

“it will be recalled that on July 1st, our officers responding to distress call at Abule-Ori community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state moved in and were able to rescue seven church members earlier kidnapped in a church. That same night, the Corps decided to trail the kidnappers and it was during the operation when the officers engaged in a shoot-out with the kidnappers that the unintended happened.

“It was really and unfortunate situation, a very sad one that none of us is happy about. After this incident, So Safe issued a release to the members of the public that severn kidnapped church members were rescued while one of the kidnappers was gunned down with others escaping with bullet wounds.

“We however later got to know in the cause of our investigation that the suspect killed was not a kidnapper but Pastor Adeniyi Adisa of Oke Oluokun, Ibadan, Oyo State who had earlier been kidnapped by the kidnappers and probably brought along to be freed after collecting the ransom before going for their next operation but may be the there was a delay somehow
leading to this incident.

“The Ogun State Police Command has investigated this case and it has been discovered that Pastor Adeniyi Adisa was a kidnapped victim too and he was never a kidnapper. This retraction is to set the record straight and assuage the feelings of the family that their son, Pastor Adeniyi Adisa was never a kidnapper.”

“The police is also preparing a report on this sad incident that will be given to the family, we have discussed all of this and we just want the family to heart on this unintended incident. We all know how it feels to lose a loved one especially in this kind of situation. We hereby commiserate with the family on this loss and we pray that the soul of the departed rest in peace”

So-Safe Corps will be providing financial support to the children of the deceased in close collaboration with Alamutu Abiodun, the Commissioner of Police.

The family’s leader spoke on behalf of the family says, “It’s a tragic loss, but what can we do? We discovered that it was an operational error as a rational family. That was not the plan. Our interactions with the police and So Safe Corps members have led to today’s press briefing.

“I am glad my brother’s name has been cleared of being a kidnapper and for the compensation for the children, I know the officers are men of integrity and they will certainly do as promised.”