Ondo: Kidnappers free abducted church members after collecting N50m ransom

• The choir members of the church were abducted along Ifon-Benin road on their way to a funeral ceremony.
• The church was said to have paid N50m in ransom to secure the release of the abducted members.

A clutch of church members abducted a week ago in Ondo state have been released by their captors.

The abductees are choir members of the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo state.

The choir members of the church were abducted along Ifon-Benin road on their way to a funeral ceremony.

The church was said to have paid N50m in ransom to secure the release of the abducted members.

The abductors had on the second day of the abduction asked for N50m ransom for the release of the remaining 17 victims after eight of the 25 abducted escaped from the kidnappers den last week Saturday.

A church leader told newsmen that the kidnappers rejected the N22m taken to them and insisted on the N50m that they demanded.

According to him ”we had no choice than to look for the N50 m to give to them before our members were released. It was tough but we thank God, we were able to gather the amount. “The joy there is that our members have regained their freedom and were not hurt except the beating they received when we were negotiating the ransom with the kidnappers”.

A church leader who confirmed the release of the abducted victims said they were dropped at the same point they were picked last Friday night while they arrived in Akure around midnight.
He confirmed that a substantial amount of money was paid as ransom by the church and the families of the victims to secure their release.

According to him “The negotiating team of the church returned with the remaining victims at 11:47 pm to the premises of the church in Akure. “They were subsequently taken to the hospital as they all looked weak and frail and we rushed them to the police clinic in Akure. They are responding to treatment”

The Regional Superintendent of the church, Odubanjo Region, Pastor Benjamin Akande, who confirmed the release of the church members, expressed gratitude to God for the release of the victims.

He said most of the victims were exhausted and looked frail, saying they have been taken to hospital for medical treatment.