There was panic at a parish of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God at Santos bus stop in the Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos State,
on Sunday after some gunmen walked in and abducted the pastor during the
service.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the pastor,
identified only as Bajomo, was whisked away by the gunmen, who came to the
church as if they were new members.
Our correspondent learnt that the pastor, who was
abducted around 7am, was the first to reach the parish and was preparing for a
workers’ meeting which usually preceded the Sunday service.
It was gathered that when the other members arrived at the church, the pastor
was nowhere to be found.
Our correspondent
gathered that the matter was reported at the Owutu Police Division.
A witness, who identified
herself only as Esther, said the gunmen wore attractive clothes as if they had
come for the church service.
She said, “The pastor
came earlier around 7am to prepare for a workers’ meeting. The shocking thing
was that the men walked in quietly like new members.
“They dressed like people
who had come to church. They had Bibles with them. They did not shoot or
display any weapon. It was when they got to the pastor that they brought out
their guns and ordered him to come with them.
“The pastor got to the
church before anyone else and only three members had arrived before the
abduction.
“We discovered after they
had left that they were Ijaw militants. They have taken away our pastor. Some
members, after the incident, went to the pastor’s house to inform his family
members.
“It is a sad occurrence
in our area that residents are being abducted, raped, assaulted and even killed
every day. It is a problem that has been left to become a calamity.
“I think the state
government and the police really need to do something about these recurring
incidents. We are at the mercy of the Ijaw boys.”
Our correspondent learnt
that the Sunday service did not hold at the parish as a result of the pastor’s
abduction.
The Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said she would get back to our
correspondent on the matter.
She, however, had yet to
get back as of press time.
The RCCG Head, Media and
Public Relations, Pastor Segun Adegbiji, confirmed the abduction.
He said the church would
invite God’s anger on those who troubled its members and pastors.
He said, “RCCG will not
take abduction or murder of our pastors and members any more.
“We like to warn
murderers and abductors that God will show up with anger and fire. He will
consume them speedily.”
...Punch
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