Gunmen In Bayelsa Kidnaps Pastor, Demands N300m As Ransom, N200k As Money For Phone Calls

The very nerve of this people...

A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, New Anointing Chapel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Mark Christmas, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his hometown, and to add salt to the painful injury, they demanded extra N200,000 for recharge cards.

Punch Metro learnt that pastor was kidnapped with two other persons on October 18.

She said the incident happened in their hometown, Biseingbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa. Mrs. Christmas said her husband was invited to the community for a meeting by unknown persons on the fateful day.

“When he got to the community, he found out that the invitation was not only false but a devilish plan to kidnap him,” she said.

Mrs. Christmas said the pastor had stayed over two weeks in their custody as they demanded N200, 000 for all their phone calls and N30 million as ransom.

“It is over two weeks and I have not heard or seen my husband but some of our family members, who live in the village, told me that they spoke with them.

“I planned to contact the police, but the family members said that I should not involve the police to avoid incurring more danger.

“The reason is that my husband might be killed by the hoodlums if the police is involved in the matter,” she said.

Mrs. Christmas described the situation as ”very painful”.

She said she prays her husband comes home alive.

The Police Public Relation Office in Bayelsa, Asinim Butswat, said the family had not reported the matter to the police.

“They have not reported the incident to us, but if they come to us, we are ready to mobilise ourselves,” Mr. Butswat said.