Families Of Kidnapped Victims Fault Ondo Police On Arrest, Release Claims

By Ayodele Oni

Families of worshippers abducted during a midnight service at a Celestial Church in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have faulted claims by the Ondo State Police Command that suspects have been arrested and one of the victims rescued.

The families, who spoke with journalists on Saturday, described the police statement as “misleading and untrue,” insisting that all the abducted worshippers remain in the custody of their captors four days after the attack.

The victims were reportedly seized on Tuesday night when gunmen invaded the church located along the Uso/Owo Expressway during a service.

Their reaction followed an earlier disclosure by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, that 11 suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction and that one of the victims had been rescued.

The police commissioner spoke on Friday during a media Parley in Akure while reacting to update on the incident.

However, the families said they were shocked by the announcement, stressing that none of the victims had returned home and that they had not been contacted by the police regarding any rescue or confirmed arrests linked to the incident.

“We are surprised to hear that arrests have been made and that one victim has been rescued,” a family spokesperson said. “As of today, none of the abducted worshippers has returned home, and none of us has been shown or informed of any suspect arrested in connection with this crime.

“If truly arrests have been made, we expect transparency. We are the ones directly affected, and we should not be left in the dark.”

The families further disclosed that the abductors had established contact and were demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for the release of the victims.

According to them, the ransom demand has deepened their anxiety and contradicted the police’s assertion that significant breakthroughs had been recorded in the case.

“The kidnappers have reached out to us and are insisting on ₦100 million. This shows clearly that our loved ones are still with them. We are in constant fear and distress,” another relative said.

They lamented that since the abduction, they had not received any formal briefing from security agencies on concrete steps taken to secure the victims’ freedom.

While appealing for intensified rescue efforts, the families urged the police to prioritise actionable operations over public statements that, in their view, do not reflect the situation on the ground.

“We need results, not assurances. Every conflicting statement increases public anxiety and weakens trust in security agencies,” the spokesperson added.

The families also called on the Ondo State and federal government to urgently scale up security operations in the area to ensure the safe and unconditional release of the victims.