We killed abducted pastor in error, Ogun security outfit admits

The Ogun State government-owned So-Safe Corps, on Monday, admitted killing a pastor, Adeniyi Adisa, in a shoot-out with suspected kidnappers on July 1, 2023.

Some gunmen had reportedly stormed a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Abule-Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, where they killed a pastor and abducted seven worshippers. 

The Commander of the Ogun State So-Safe Corps, Soji Ganzallo, while confirming the incident, said his officers later rescued the seven church members and killed one of the kidnappers during the operation. 

But three months after the incident, Ganzallo admitted that Adisa was also kidnapped at a different location by the gang of hoodlums who attacked the Redeemed Church. 

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

Ganzallo cleared the air while addressing newsmen on the controversy at the Corps’ head office in Abeokuta, alongside the family members of the slain pastor. 

Ganzallo said “It will be recalled that on July 1st, our officers responding to a 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 event happened. 

“It was really an 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 several kidnapped church members were rescued while one of the kidnappers was gunned down while others escaped with bullet wounds. 

“We however later got to know in the course 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.”