After abducting a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ikorodu on Sunday just before the start of service for the day, the abductors are allegedly asking for N100 million in ransom for the release of the cleric.
According to a relative of the pastor who spoke to Punch newspaper, the kidnappers have gotten in touch and requested the lump sum for his freedom.
“Those men have called. They are asking for N100 million. That is a big worry. The pastor was cleaning the chairs on Sunday with a few members when the men came in. But God is in control,” she said.
The residents of the area claimed that there have been a salvo of kidnapping for ransom in the area in recent times.
The suspected perpetrators of these abductions are believed to be Niger Delta militants who are deep into the creeks of Ikorodu.
One of the residents, Jacob also spoke to Punch.
He said,
“An immigration officer was kidnapped in our area. After the officer was released, they picked him again. They also picked a hotelier. The hotelier has not been released because his family members have yet to pay the N10m ransom the abductors demanded.
“On another occasion, they abducted twin brothers. The twins’ father was the target of the hoodlums because he worked in a big company in the Somolu area of Lagos. But since he was not at home, they abducted his 13-year-old twins. That was last Monday. They were, however, released on Wednesday after the man paid N20,000.
“It was a relation of the kidnappers who took the money to them in the creeks. That was how the victims were freed.”
Also, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had directed the case be transferred to SARS.
She said, “The CP has directed that the case be transferred to SARS to give it the attention it deserves.”
