The two members of Celestial Church of Christ, Oshofa, Wasimi, in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State who were abducted by gunmen who invaded the church in masks and fez caps, have been released.

Founder of the church, Oluwatomisin Olugbebi said Assistant Shepherd (assistant pastor) of the parish, Oluwaseun Ajose, and a Sunday school teacher, Dagunro Ayobami were released on Saturday June 18.

Though the kidnappers reduced the ransom from N50m to N10m last Thursday, Olugbebi said only N1m, cigarettes, gin, beans and rice were given as ransom. 

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.

“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.”

Ogun police command spokesperson, Lanre Bankole also confirmed the church leaders’ release.

Bankole said; 

“They regained their freedom last night (Saturday) due to sustained pressure mounted by the police on the kidnappers.”