Gunmen assasinate RCCG pastor, kidnap seven church members during vigil

The Redeemed Christian Church of God was invaded on Saturday by a group of armed men, who killed the pastor and kidnapped seven worshipers at Abule-Ori in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The incident happened at the vigil about twelve o’clock, according to our correspondent.

The State So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the incident and said his officers successfully freed seven churchgoers from captivity while also killing one of the kidnappers.

Ganzallo, in a statement issued by the So-Safe Corps Director of Information and Public Relations, Moruf Yusuf, said, “The special operation team of the Corps, Owode-Egba Zonal Command, under ACC Jimoh Rasaki Omoniyi, received a distress call that some of the members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Desires of Nations Parish, under Ogun Province 22, Abule-Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, were attacked during a vigil, while seven members of the church were kidnapped and the pastor killed.

“The seven victims were rescued unhurt, while one of the kidnappers was killed and many of the suspects sustained serious injury during a fire exchange.”

Omolola Odutola, the state command’s police public relations officer, also confirmed the occurrence and stated that the command was informed.

Odutola claimed that Adesina Oyesegun, one of the church’s pastors, reported the event to the local police station.

The PPRO added that at about 03:30 pm on Saturday, Oyesegun said, “He was in church with other pastors and church members, when some hoodlums numbering about seven invaded their church, attacked them with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons with intent to Kidnap members.

She said, “The hoodlums were shooting sporadically, and as a result, one Pastor Kayode Oluwakemi, 56, sustained bullet wounds on his chest and unfortunately died on the spot.

“The villagers and security men in the area attracted the neighbouring villagers and security men, who confronted the suspected Kidnappers in a gun duel.

“The kidnapped victims have regained their freedom.

“Some of the Suspected Kidnappers escaped with bullet wounds, one yet to be identified suspected kidnapper was neutralised while combing the bush and the corpse was deposited at Owode Egba General Hospital Morgue.

“Effort is in progress to arrest the other fleeing suspects that are still at large.”