No fewer than 25 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Igan in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have been abducted by gunmen.
Reports said the church members were abducted around 3pm on Friday while traveling to Ifon in Ose council area of the state for a burial ceremony.
A church member, who spoke with newsmen said that the victims were going for the burial ceremony when the kidnappers struck.
A source confirmed the incident to reporters in the early hours of Saturday.
The source, who is also a member of the church, said the abducted worshippers were mostly choir members.
“At least twenty-five of them were in the bus travelling for the burial programme en route to Ose LGA. They were abducted by the armed men and their bus was abandoned by the roadside,” he said.
Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, police spokesperson in Ondo, confirmed the incident, saying the police anti-kidnapping squad and other tactical teams had been deployed in the area to rescue the victims.
“The incident happened yesterday (Friday) afternoon, the police were informed that a Church Bus with the Inscription CAC was abandoned around the Elegbeka area and there are suspicions that the passengers in the vehicle were kidnapped.
“But we are already on the trail of the kidnappers with the view to rescue the abducted victims. Our men from the anti-kidnapping squad are combing the bush already,” she said.