Some gunmen attacked the Redeemed Christian Church of God at Abule-Ori in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday, killing the pastor and abducting seven worshippers.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred around 12 am during the vigil.
Confirming the incident, the State So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, said his officers rescued the seven church members and killed one of the kidnappers during the operation.
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.”
Also, confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state Command, Omolola Odutola, said the command was aware.
Odutola said one of the pastors of the church, Adesina Oyesegun, reported the incident at the Police Station in the area.
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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.”