Akeredolu said that synergy among Ondo, Edo and Kogi police commands will ensure seamless rescue operation towards freeing Justice Dogo.

Recall that Justice Dogo was kidnapped alongside his driver by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers while on their way from Abuja to Akure on Tuesday evening.

The governor who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ojo Oyewamide via a statement stated that, “the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu has received with concern the news of the abduction of Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo.

“Justice Dogo is a Judge of the Federal High Court, Akure Division, and was said to have been kidnapped at Ibilo, Edo State, while returning from Abuja.

“Notwithstanding that the unpleasant incident happened outside the territory of Ondo State, Governor Akeredolu says the kidnap of any Nigerian anywhere must elicit a pan-Nigerian reaction and empathy.

“In this particular case, Mr Governor is disturbed and deeply concerned that Dogo serves the Federal Judiciary in Ondo.

“While charging the Ondo State Police Command to synergize with its Edo and Kogi counterparts to effect the early release of Justice Dogo, Governor Akeredolu admonishes that seemingly incorrect narrative on the heels of such critical situations as kidnap are capable of disrupting the focus and attention of the appropriate intelligence architectures.

“The case of Justice Dogo who was said to have been kidnapped in Ondo rather than Ibilo in Edo State is a relevant case study that could hamper proper and adequate intelligence gathering.”

The judge was said to have been kidnapped alongside his drive on Tuesday while he was returning from an official assignment in Abuja to Akure.

The kidnappers are said to been demanding N50 million to release the judge.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has deployed the head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kiyari, to rescue Justice Dogo from his abductors.

Recall that MURIC had described the abduction of nine Muslim children in Kano and their alleged conversion to Christianity as kidnapping for Christ, Daily Post reports.

Northern CAN, in its reaction, described MURIC’s statement as ‘reckless, irresponsible, derogatory and provocative utterances.’

However, in a statement signed by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Monday, MURIC maintained its earlier position on the matter, insisting that CAN should put its house in order.

The statement reads, “There is incontrovertible evidence that Muslim children have been kidnapped, converted to Christianity and sold into slavery. It is not the Kano 9 alone.

“There are others. There is also indubitable evidence to prove that it did not start yesterday. What is Northern CAN trying to tell us? They are chasing shadows.

“In our statement last Monday, we separated good Christians from bad ones. We also made it clear that we have both the good and the bad among Muslims too. Here are our exact words: ‘We are aware that not all Christians are involved in this criminal behavior.

“Many adherents of Christianity are decent and peace-loving. Such Christians will never descend so low as to seize, convert and sell Muslim children.

“Instead of joining hands with us to condemn the bad ones among us, Northern CAN is seeking to silence us. That is a tall dream. We advise Northern CAN to put its house in order and stop blaming MURIC.

“Afterall, we did not mention anything about kidnapping for Christ until the issue of Kano 9 occurred and the revelation has exposed other similar cases.

“We advise Northern CAN to launch a campaign of love and harmony in the churches. There is an urgent need to deradicalise Christian elements particularly in the Middle Belt region where Muslims are being killed and dumped inside mysterious ponds and narrow wells.

“The same advocacy should be taken to South Eastern Nigeria from where syndicates sponsor sleeper cells to Northern Nigeria to abduct, convert and sell Muslim children into slavery.

“Enough of denials and sentimentalities. Northern CAN should stop defending the indefensible. Its current body language is not remorseful. Your fellow Christians kidnapped Muslim children and converted them to Christianity.

“The Muslims complain but instead of consoling them and checking your members you are firing at the victims from all cylinders. We know you very well. This has always been your style. You never own up.

“We warn that Northern CAN should not drag Nigerian Christians into a controversy that involves only those who are in the dirty business of kidnapping Muslim children for conversion to Christianity.

“We hold Jesus (peace be upon him) in very high esteem and our statement was not intended to malign him. No true Muslim will do that.

“Extremist Christians can kidnap Muslims for Christ. That does not mean that Christ is involved. In fact Christ did not send them. They are only being more Christian than Christ himself.

“Jesus never taught men to be wicked. He taught love, kindness and righteousness. It is highly mischievous of Northern CAN to attempt to whip up sentiments over mere semantics.

“We find it difficult to believe CAN’s words, ‘No Christian has associated Muslims with such criminal acts. We only cry for our own who are victims’. Really?

“This is a false claim and Nigerians know better. What of all the allegations against us in the early days of Boko Haram attacks on churches?

“On a last note, we invite Northern CAN to put its house in order and join hands with the authorities in fishing out remaining sleeper cells for the kidnapping and conversion of Muslim children to Christianity.

“We can all coexist peacefully but we must first eschew parochialism and address issues objectively. We can change this atmosphere of mutual suspicion if only we can be sincere with ourselves.”

He also advised them to cultivate the habit of retiring for the night by 6:00 p.m.

The NYSC Director General’s gave this warning on Sunday when he paid an unannounced visit to corps members deployed to Katsina and Borno States who are currently undergoing their orientation programmes in Katsina State.

General Ibrahim Sunday visit was the second he would make to Katsina within a week as he was earlier in the town last Tuesday following the death of three corps members serving in the state in a ghastly road accident.

The Spokesman for the NYSC in Katsina, Alex Oboameta quoted the DG to have said “The NYSC will never pay ransom if any corps member is kidnapped. Corps Members are therefore advised to secure themselves as much as possible to avoid being kidnapped.”

Oboameta, in a statement on the NYSC DG’s visit, added that General Ibrahim addressed the corps members in Katsina Camp where he urged them to be focused and be law-abiding.