Renowned criminologist and governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Delta state, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi, has called for the immediate release of the two Catholic priests kidnapped on Saturday night.
Recall that Rev. Fr. Raphael Ogigbah, parish priest of St. Francis Agbarha-Otor, Warri Diocese and Rev Fr. Kunav Chochos, Schoenstartt Fathers, from Ibadan, Oyo state were abducted in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli north local government area of the state.
He noted that he is following with grave concern reports about the kidnapping of the two priests who are not the cause of the insecurity in the state but an offshoot of poor governance.
The security expert in a statement on Monday May 1, 2023, said, he soundly condemned this dastardly terrorist act on innocent priests and Deltans and called for their immediate and unconditional release of the priests.
He called on the government and security authorities to promptly hunt down the perpetrators of this heinous act and bring them to justice.
Hear him: “The entire Delta people and Nigerians all over the world know that there has been a lot of security challenge in the state and Nigeria.
“This is because our Nigerian government does not have mechanism to combat criminality and bring crime to an end in the country. The result is what we are experiencing today in Nigeria.
“While these kidnappers without jobs, no source of livelihood, no expectations and nothing looking forward for them, resort to kidnapping, the government should be blamed.
“When you see a government or persons in Nigeria government that hitherto struggle to put meals on their tables only for them to find their way into government and start driving 20 to 30 cars, brandishing them in the face of the downtrodden, it leaves much to be desired.
“I call on these abductors to immediately release those two priests because the priests have no business with the hardship brought about by the failed Nigerian government.
He pleaded with the kidnappers to release the priests, in respect for their appeal, saying “let us face the problems squarely . Please, young men, release the two priests”, he added.
