Enoch Adejare Adeboye, 79, General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos, Nigeria. PHOTO/COURTESY.
Nigerian Pastor, Enoch Adeboye has confirmed that eight (8) Christians who were kidnapped at gunpoint last month while traveling in a RCCG Church bus to attend an evangelism program in the northern part of the country have finally been released.
According to Barnabas Fund, an international Christian aid agency that supports Christians who face discrimination or persecution as a consequence of their faith, Adeboye said that the released captives were later taken to a hospital for examination, adding, “Glory be to Jesus.
“Today, I got the exciting news that our brethren who were in captivity of kidnappers have all been released and taken to the hospital for checkup and tests,” tweeted Adeboye on 8 April. “We pray for lasting peace in all troubled regions of the country in Jesus name.”
Media reports had earlier stipulated that the abductors had demanded more than $131,000 in ransom for their release.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, however, did not state if any ransom was paid.
State Police Public Relations Officer Mohammed Jalige earlier said the church’s bus was attacked by gunmen on 26 March near Doka along the Kachia-Kafanchan Road. The church members (adult missionaries, male and female),were transferred to another vehicle and left the church’s vehicle on the road.
Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, the head of RCCG media and public relations, told the Punch that time the Church was working with law enforcement agencies for the safe return of its members.
“We feel completely disturbed by the development and as a church, the best we can do is to pray that God will intervene and these brethren will return home to their loved ones,” he said then. “As a church, we are praying now and asking God to take charge of the situation. A report has also been made to the police.”
