The Redeemed Christian Church of God has called for prayers for the release of the church’s eight members who were kidnapped in Kaduna on Friday.
The victims, who are members of the RCCG, Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary, Kaduna, were waylaid near Doka along Kachia-Kafanchan Road on their way to a program.
RCCG spokesman Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi said the church was disturbed by the incident.
“We feel completely disturbed by the development and as a church, the best we can do is to pray that God will intervene and these brethren will return home to their loved ones. As a church, we are praying now and asking God to take charge of the situation. A report has also been made to the,” he told PUNCH on Saturday.
The spokesman maintained that the gunmen had yet to contact the church. But Channels TV, while quoting the spokesman of the church in the Kaduna province, Alao Joseph, stated that the kidnappers had demanded N50 million ransom.
Meanwhile, Kaduna police spokesman Mohammed Jalige said the church’s bus which was abandoned by the road had been retrieved.
He said, “The divisional police officer in charge of the area reported to us in the early hours of today (Saturday) that a vehicle with the inscription, ‘Redeemed Christian Church of God’ was found by the roadside with no occupant.
“The vehicle was about to be taken into custody when we received a phone call that some people were on their way from Kaduna to the scene; they brought an extra key for the vehicle. So, instead of towing the vehicle, we just allowed the church to take it away. A serious search for the members has been launched by security agencies, including the police and the military.”