Pastor, 10 church members ‘miraculously’ escape kidnap attempt

A clergyman and ten members of the United Evangelical Church (UEC), New Layout, Lokoja, Kogi State, narrowly escaped being abducted by gunmen in Ajaokuta.

The failed abduction occurred on the Ajaokuta-Itobe road at the weekend while returning to Lokoja from a wedding in Dekina LGA.

Daily Post reports that a source narrated how the bus conveying the church members came under gunfire at about 3pm.

The source said it was a miracle that the kidnappers were not able to kidnap any of them.

“It was by the help of God that they were miraculously saved from the kidnappers.

“They fired several gunshots on the direction of the driver, but miraculously, God did not allow any of the bullets to hit him.”

The source explained that some of the travellers received gunshot injuries, adding that they were treated in a hospital in Lokoja and discharged.

Kogi state’s police spokesperson, SP William Aya, confirmed the incident, saying that it was an attempted kidnapping that was nipped in the bud shortly after men of the command got wind of it.

Aya said police officers and soldiers swung into action after receiving report. He explained that the security agents engaged the hoodlums, which forced them to escape, and all the passengers were rescued.