15th June, 2015
The Cross River State Police Command has launched a manhunt for five gunmen who allegedly abducted Pastor Seyi Adekunle of the Living Faith Church, a.k.a. Winners Chapel situated along IBB Way, opposite the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar.
According to the police, the pastor was abducted inside the church at about 7.30 p.m. during a prayer session. The gunmen, it was gathered, fired into the air to scare everyone around before entering the church.
The pastor was allegedly pushed into the car brought by the men and taken to an unknown destination.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Pastor Adekunle is the head pastor of Province Two of the church. Works have been ongoing in the church since 2014 when the pastor joined the branch of the church.
A member of the church who declined to identify himself for fear of police harassment disclosed that the pastor was holding a prayer sesson with members of the congregation when the gunmen burst in and started demanding for money.
When told that there was no money in the church, the suspects got angry and took the pastor away.
A police source revealed that the suspects got information that the pastor was keeping a huge amount of money meant for the construction of the church and decided to abduct him to get the money as ransom for his release.
Investigations revealed further that the church held its Sunday service yesterday with Pastor Adekunle’s assistant in charge. There was tight security provided by policemen around the premises during the service.
Spokesman of the Cross River State Police Command, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident, adding that the kidnappers were yet to make any demand.