FORMER Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Prof. Dennis Agbonlanhor was on Sunday afternoon kidnapped shortly after he attended the service at St Matthew’s Cathedral, Sokponba Road in Benin, the state capital.

It was gathered that Agbonlanhor was kidnapped by armed gunmen while standing by his car after the Sunday service. Agbonlanhor is a professor of microbiology and currently the chairman of the Governing Board of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

As at yesterday, family sources said no contact had been made by the kidnappers but the police said the issue has been reported and they were already investigating it.

Family members and professional colleagues are however worried over his safety and have urged the security agencies to do all within their power to get him freed.

Meanwhile, the cult war which has led to the death of over 12 persons in different parts of Benin in the last few days continued as a middle aged man identified as Taye Oga was on Sunday night killed in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Council at a night party.
But the police yesterday said 40 suspected cultists, allegedly involved in the brutal killings have been arrested. They were yesterday paraded by the Edo State Police Command.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, is said to have ordered for the immediate prosecution of the suspects, just as he assured that the police would clamp down on leaders of cult groups in the state.