Ogun security outfit admits to killing pastor in error

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 different locations by the gang of hoodlums who attacked the Redeemed Church.

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 Yotomi area, Owode Egba in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

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Ganzallo cleared the air while addressing newsmen on the controversy at the Corps’ head office in Abeokuta, alongside the two wives of the slain Pastor, Mrs Temilade Adisa, Mrs Bukola Adisa; their two children, Mr Adeyemi Adisa, Mrs Adewunmi Adelaja and a maternal cousin to the deceased who also led the family delegation, Chief Muiz Adegboyega Akande.

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 seven 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.

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“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 are 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 hear about 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”

Speaking on behalf of the family during the press briefing, the leader of the family said “It’s a painful loss but what can we do? As a reasonable family we have found out that it was an operational error. It was not intended. We have had engagement with the police and officers of the So Safe Corps culminating into 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.”