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By Emmanuel Adeleke
No fewer than 25 members of a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke Igan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Friday afternoon.
The victims, who were said to be travelling in the church’s vehicle to Ifon, in Ose Local Government Area of the state, for a burial ceremony, were stopped by the suspected kidnappers who whisked them away.
Confirming the incident, Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, said the command was informed about the development on Friday.
She said operatives of the command swung into action immediately, adding that detectives from the command have been on the trail of the suspected kidnappers.
“Yesterday afternoon, the police was informed that a church bus with the Inscription CAC was abandoned around Elegbeka area.
“There are suspicions that the passengers in the vehicle were kidnapped and 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 said.
She stressed that further information would be communicated later if there is any new development.
The Owo-Ifon-Benin road, which is notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery, is currently in deplorable condition.
It was gathered that some of the victims who have been released, said the kidnappers have established contacts with their family members in Akure before releasing them, adding that only 18 of them were abducted.