Residents of Ondo State blocked the Akure-Owo Expressway for hours to protest the kidnapping of at least five congregants during a vigil at the Celestial Church of Christ in Uso town, Owo Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday night.
Reports said that the attackers broke into the church on the Akure–Owo Expressway about midnight and took six worshippers into the woods.
The PUNCH said that one of the victims got away later, leaving five others behind.
People in Uso were very angry about what happened, and yesterday they held a protest to get the government’s attention on the area’s escalating crime. The demonstrators blocked the roadway for a few hours while singing songs of support and calling for better safety.
Deoye, one of the protestors, stated that the protest was vital to bring attention to the state’s deteriorating security situation.
“We are here to let the government know that there is more crime in Ondo State. Think about how horrible it would be for innocent individuals to be kidnapped while they were worshiping their God in a church.
This is not okay. He remarked, “The government needs to do more to protect lives and property.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the occurrence and added that the command had begun a coordinated effort to save the victims.
He said that the kidnapping happened about 12:50 a.m. on Tuesday, when armed men removed people from the church and drove them to an unknown location.
“After getting the report, operatives from the command, along with the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups, quickly went to the scene and started a coordinated rescue operation,” Jimoh added.
He said that one of the kidnapped worshippers had been freed and that a suspected informant connected to the case had been apprehended and was helping the police with their investigation.
The police spokesperson also said that security measures were still going on to make sure that the remaining victims were safely rescued and that everyone involved was arrested.
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