One-time President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola, has opened up on his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers, saying he could have died if not for God’s benevolence.

The former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, spoke yesterday at a special thanksgiving service to mark his freedom held at the St. Saviour Anglican Church, Presidential Hilltop, Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.

Akinola, the story of whose kidnap on Tuesday afternoon was broken by News Express, disclosed that he was driven into a thick forest with his daughter and driver after they were abducted by gunmen in front of his Youth Training Centre, on the outskirts of Abeokuta.

His words: “They asked me to open the door and knocking the glass with their guns. I instructed my driver, Jonah to open the door for them, they sandwiched us at the back of the car and they drove off. They told us to put our head down and that they will blow off our head if we look up.

“They drove for about an hour, where we don’t know until we discover that we are in the midst of a thick forest. Then I requested to talk and informed them that there was not enough fuel in the car.

“They queried us for not having enough fuel in the car and my driver responded that we just return from a journey. In the bush there, I was surprised at how they were able to locate a filling station, bought N3,000 fuel and continued with the journey; that was about three in the afternoon.

“As we drove, they asked who I was and I told them that I am a retired village pastor. They asked how I came by the jeep and I told them I was a village pastor that has just retired and that the car was given to me by the church.

“They asked about the security of the car and I told them there was none. They search for it for almost two hour but couldn’t find anything. I was just praying that God of mercy come to our rescue. I was just remembering how God saved some believers in the Bible and I concluded that if I must die, how could it be in the hands of these people? Unknown to us, the news had started circulating around and people started praying.

“They had taken everything from us; my shirt, my shoes and I was left with my singlet and trousers but my driver was not so lucky. His cloth, trouser and shoe were taken, he was left with boxer.

“They said I should walk on. When we moved for about hundred meters away from the car, I was asked to take the left while my driver was asked to take the right inside the bush. I was hearing how they were threatening my driver.

“After a while, we started hearing gunshots; apparently they knew that the police were around. Later we learnt that the governor himself with the Commissioner of Police, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, led the rescue team. When we couldn’t hear any more gunshots, I trekked back to the footpath shouting for my driver.

“Not quite long (afterwards) I saw a vehicle coming, they approach me. I raised my hands up and told them it was my car they took and that I was looking for my driver.

“Then they said they were police officers and that I should come into the car.

“The leader of the police team, the State Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), they called him TJ; he was a wonderful man. For the first time in my life I doff my hat for the police because of their performance.

“It was just beyond my imagination that I come back in peace but was worried about my driver whom I later found out was at the hospital.”

•Photo shows Most Rev. Akinola.