A cleric, Evangelist Adeyemi Oluwatosin Alayo, was abducted by suspected kidnappers in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday evening. Alayo, the Shepherd of the Celestial Church of Christ, Nazareth Parish 1, was taken from his residence in the Adamo community, shortly after the church’s annual adult harvest celebration.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro, a church member who wished to remain anonymous shared, “We called to congratulate him on the successful harvest but couldn’t reach him. The next day, we learned gunmen had kidnapped him.”
Another church member, Taiwo, confirmed that the abductors contacted the family, demanding a ransom of N30 million ($18,293). “Details are unclear, but 24 hours after the incident, they confirmed he was with them and demanded the ransom,” he said.
The church has issued public appeals for prayers on social media. “A CCC Shepherd has been kidnapped, and now they’re demanding N30m as ransom. Your prayer is highly needed,” read one post. Lagos State Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the abduction but stated, “I cannot confirm the ransom demand.”
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
