It was a sad Sunday for members of Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kogi as Gun men suspected to be kidnappers invaded the Resurrection Parish of the Church at Kabba Junction in Lokoja and took the parish pastor away .

 

 

 

According to a witness, the Pastor whose name was given as Ayo Funsho Raphael was at the church service at about 9.30 am preaching at the altar when the incident occurred.

 

 

 

The witness told us that the kidnappers numbering about 10 were said to have announced their presence with a sporadic gun shots , and ordered every body in the church to lie face down‎ while the pastor was dragged bare footed into the bush.

 

 

Though no body was injured but several members of the church were said to have sustained bruises as‎ a result of the pandemonium that ensued.

 

 

 

A source from the church said ,the kidnappers had kept the pastor in their hide out since Sunday morning but had opened a line of communication with the church elders on Monday evening demanding  50 million naira ransom for the Pastor to be released.

 

 

 

In the last weeks, over 100 people have been abducted at various locations in kogi state by kidnappers and people are now living in fear as kidnappers can just randomly flagged down any motorists and abducted the occupants.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, at the state command, ASP Williams Aya said they are yet to be informed by the officer in charge of  the area.