Kidnappers of Lagos RCCG pastor demand N100m ransom

The kidnappers of Kayode Bajomo, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Santos bus stop, Isawo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have demanded a ransom of N100m.

Our correspondent learnt that the case had been transferred from the Owutu Police Division to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikorodu, of the Lagos State Police Command.

PUNCH Metro reported on Monday that the kidnappers, who disguised as new church members, had around 7am on Sunday come into the church.

There was confusion thereafter at the parish, which made the Sunday service to end abruptly.

One of the witnesses had said the gunmen, believed to be Ijaw militants, came into the church with bibles, and met the pastor and four other members.

When our correspondent got to the area on Monday, one of the family friends, who did not want her name in print, said the gunmen had demanded a ransom of N100m.

“Those men have called. They are asking for N100m. 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.

Our correspondent observed the pastor’s wife and the wife of the area pastor, who were visibly distraught by the incident, gave their statements to the policemen at SARS.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that operatives had visited the church.

He said, “Police detectives were at the church till around 4pm. Soldiers are usually stationed in the vicinity. So, it was surprising that the pastor was abducted. The church is near a stream. There are about 30 members in the parish.”

When our correspondent met with the pastor’s wife, she was reluctant to discuss the incident.

“Just pray with us. You have already put out a report,” she said.

Our correspondent learnt that last week in the area, gunmen abducted a hotelier and demanded N10m which the victim’s family had yet to pay.

A resident, who gave his name only as Jacob, said 13-year-old twin brothers were also abducted by gunmen in the area when the plot to abduct their father failed.

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.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had ordered the transfer of the case to SARS.

“The CP has directed that the case be transferred to SARS to give it the attention it deserves,” she said.