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.


Our correspondent had reported that the
gunmen, after sighting the pastor, brought
out weapons and ordered him to come with
them, after which they disappeared into the
creek.
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.