VAM News Update
20 hours after their abduction, the Ondo State Police Command on Saturday said it had rescued eight out of 25 people who were kidnapped on Friday.
Twenty-five members of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo State were kidnapped by some hoodlums suspected to be gunmen, in the state, on Friday evening
The victims, who were said to be choristers of the church, were reportedly attacked and kidnapped on the Benin-Akure Expressway, around the Ifon area in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
They were said to be travelling to Ifon, for a burial ceremony, while the hoodlums waylaid them and dragged them to an unknown destination in the bush.
Speaking on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed that eight of the victims had been rescued while efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims.
“Good news!, eight victims rescued, effort is on to rescue others unhurt”, she said on a WhatsApp platform.
Also in an official statement released by the Police Spokesperson, said the worshippers were kidnapped on Friday afternoon.
“Yesterday afternoon, the police were informed that a church bus with the inscription CAC was abandoned around Elegbeka area and there are suspicions that the passengers in the vehicle were kidnapped.
“The Police Anti-kidnapping squad and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and arrest all involved in the crime,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.
A family member of one of the abductees who pleaded anonymity said that the worshippers were kidnapped at Elegbeka after Ifon in the Ose council area while travelling for a burial ceremony.
“The vehicle conveying the kidnapped members who are choir members was seen abandoned by the roadside,” the woman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Owo-Ifon has been a nightmare for motorists due to incessant cases of kidnapping and armed robbery on the route.
