Ogun gunmen take cigarettes, rice, free abducted church leaders

The two worshippers abducted last Monday by gunmen at the Celestial Church of Christ, Oshofa, Wasimi, in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, have been released.

The founder of the church, Oluwatomisin Olugbebi, said the victims were released on Saturday.

PUNCH Metro had reported that gunmen, who wore masks and fez caps, invaded the church and abducted the Assistant Shepherd (assistant pastor) of the parish, Oluwaseun Ajose, and a Sunday school teacher, Dagunro Ayobami.

The gunmen had reduced their demand from N50m to N10m last Thursday.

But on Sunday, Olugbebi disclosed to our correspondent that the church leaders were released after N1m ransom was paid.

He said, “They called on Saturday morning and demanded foodstuffs (rice, beans), cigarettes and gin. They said we should pay N1m for the two of them. I pleaded with them that we didn’t even have up to that, but they said they won’t accept anything less than a million.

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“When we heard this, the family of the victims sat on how to get the money and they raised a total of N221,000. Thankfully, well-wishers and other church members balanced it up.