Operational Error: So-Safe apologises to family of slain Pastor, pledges compensation

Damilola Ajibola

The Ogun State owned Security outfit, So-Safe Corps, has apologized to the family of late Pastor Adeniyi Adisa, who was killed by operatives of the security outfit while engaged in a shoot out with people suspected to be kidnappers at Abule Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the State.

The State Commandant of So-Safe, Commander Soji Ganzallo,at a media briefing in Abeokuta, disclosed that the cleric was sent to early grave in error,thereby apologizing to the family and equally promised compensation.

News Contact Online could recall that the late Pastor Adisa, was killed on July 1st.

Ganzallo said that the late Pastor was killed in error of operation, by which he described the incident as unintentional and unfortunate.

The immediate family of the deceased was led to the briefing by Chief Muiz Akande.

Commander Ganzallo said that the security outfit is working with the Nigeria Police to ensure that the family is adequately compensated in the month of November.

“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 Saheeb 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 Saheeb 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 Saheeb 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”

Akande, who is the Otun Parakoyi of Ibadanland while speaking on behalf of the family said the family equally found out that the killing of the cleric was nothing but an operational error.

He expressed the gratitude of the family over the amicable resolution about the sad development. 

He said, “It’s a painful loss but what can we do, as a reasonable family we have found out that it was 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”.

Pastor Saheeb Adeniyi Adisa of Latter Rain Revival Christian Church, Olaogun, Ibadan, Oyo State was the General Manager of VGC Water, Lekki, Lagos until he was 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.

Our Correspondent gathered that due to the delay in the ransom payment after the Chartered Accountant was kidnapped, his abductors took him to a bush close to a church they were going to attack. 

His abductors were said to have abandoned him and went to attack the church, where they killed the pastor during a mid-year night vigil before policemen and the state’s So-Safe Corps called upon by church members arrived at the scene.

Pastor Adisa was however said to have been killed when the security officers engaged the kidnappers in a shoot out thinking that he was one of the marauders.

The So Safe Corps in a release after the incident had labeled the deceased as one of the kidnappers gunned down during the rescue operations.