The gunmen who invaded abducted two members of the Celestial Church of Christ, Oshofa, Wasimi, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State in masks and fez caps, have released their two victims.
The kidnappers released the Assistant Shepherd (assistant pastor) of the parish, Oluwaseun Ajose, and a Sunday school teacher, Dagunro Ayobami on Saturday, June 18.
The kidnappers had reduced their N50 million ransom demand to N10 million prior to the release of the victims.
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Other demands requested for include cigarettes, gin, beans, rice and other food items.
However, only N1 million ransom was paid by the church and families of the victims to secure their release.
A source 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.
“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.
“They did not give a specific location where we should drop the money. They asked to speak to the sister of one of the victims and told her to come to a certain location. When she got there, she called them and they told her to give the phone to the bike rider.
“They told the bike rider their location without disclosing it to her. The bike rider then took her to the location where the money and the requested foodstuffs were dropped. After like 10 minutes, they asked her to come and pick them (victims) up at the bus stop.”
The Ogun police command spokesperson, Lanre Bankole, confirmed the church leaders’ release.
Bankole said;
“They regained their freedom last night (Saturday) due to sustained pressure mounted.”
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