Kidnappers have threatened to kill six members of the Celestial Church of Christ, Jordan Parish, in Uso, Owo, Ondo State, who were abducted last Wednesday during an early morning prayer service.
Sources familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that the kidnappers have given the church and the victims’ families until 1pm on Monday to raise and deliver the demanded N10 million ransom.
They warned that all the abducted members would be killed if the ransom is not paid.
“The kidnappers have given a deadline of 1pm on Monday for the payment of the N10 million demanded as ransom. They are threatening that if the money is not received by then, they will kill all those they have abducted,” a source told SaharaReporters.
It was also reported that the church pastor sold his car and other properties in a bid to raise the ransom, while members of the Uso community pooled their resources to help.
“Even the church pastor has sold his car in a bid to ensure that money demanded by the kidnappers is raised. As of now, the church leadership and the community have managed to raise N10 million demanded by the kidnappers,” the source said.
Amid the developments, multiple sources told SaharaReporters that the Ondo State Government and security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), have yet to step in or take action to secure the release of the victims.
“The Ondo State Government led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has not done anything at all to intervene in the crisis. You would think the lives of those kidnapped do not matter; not even any effort by the government or intervention,” the source said.
“Also, security operatives have failed to help the efforts, they have not shown any form of concern, not even the DSS as of now.”
Family sources noted that although the N10 million demanded by the kidnappers has been raised, there is no security presence, and those familiar with the situation remain uncertain about how to safely deliver the money or what actions security agencies might take.
“As of now, there is high tension. Instead of the government to act, they are busy blaming the people, asking what a pregnant woman was doing in the church. They are also telling the media that they rescued one of the victims which is a lie. In fact, the person who escaped did so on his own,” the source said.
“Except for the time the police authorities came to the location after the abduction became public, they have not come again nor contacted the church or community. Anything you see online that is contrary to this is pure lie and propaganda,” another source privy to the development told SaharaReporters.
The kidnappers have also threatened to return to the scene of the abduction to carry out another round of kidnappings, specifically warning that the church pastor could be targeted next.
“They (kidnappers) are threatening to return and take more people yet there has been no action from the government regarding these threats. They are even saying specifically that they would come back for the pastor and this is causing a lot of tension in the church,” one of the sources said.
“Even the ransom, if the pastor attempts to deliver it, they will detain him and the situation will be worse.”
“We are appealing for government intervention. The situation is getting out of hand and lives are at stake. Yet, the government has refused to acknowledge that what’s on the ground is dangerous,” the source added.
Last Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that suspected terrorists invaded a Celestial Church of Christ parish in Uso community, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, abducting six worshippers during an early-morning service.
Sources said the gunmen stormed the church, located along the Benin–Owo Expressway, causing panic among congregants before whisking the victims away to an unknown destination.
The abduction came barely four days after armed assailants kidnapped a couple in Ilu-Abo community, Akure North Local Government Area, further deepening fears over worsening insecurity across the state.
An eyewitness, identified as Emmanuel, shared videos and photographs of the aftermath of the attack on social media platform X, describing the incident as part of a growing security crisis in the area.
Residents said repeated attacks by armed groups have heightened anxiety across several communities in Ondo State, with many accusing authorities of failing to curb the rising wave of kidnappings and violent assaults.
The latest incident adds to a series of security breaches recorded in the state since the beginning of 2026.
