The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing their prolonged captivity as deeply troubling.
Odedeji made the appeal on Sunday while speaking with journalists shortly after the installation of Venerable Emmanuel Kolawole as the seventh Dean of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church in Ikeja, Lagos.
The bishop expressed concern over the fate of the abducted victims, stressing that their continued detention by kidnappers had become increasingly alarming and called for renewed security efforts to ensure their safe return.
He appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies not to relent in ongoing rescue operations, urging them to deploy every available resource to bring the victims home safely and reassure affected families.
During the service, Venerable Emmanuel Kolawole was formally installed as the seventh Dean of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, marking a new chapter in the cathedral’s leadership.
Also instituted as canons were Revd Canons Tope Fashogbon, Innocent Okonkwo, Lekan Daramola, Samson Ogabi, Michael Fagbemi, Richard Oke and Ibikunle Opeyemi.
The ceremony, held at the cathedral in Ikeja, drew Anglican clergy, former deans of the cathedral, principal officers of the Diocese of Lagos West and members of the laity, who gathered to witness the installation and celebrate the newly appointed church leaders.
Odedeji urged Nigerians to continue praying for peace and security across the country, while expressing hope that ongoing efforts by security agencies would lead to the successful rescue of all those still being held captive.
