There was confusion among church members who had gathered to pray, as the senior resident Pastor of Winners Chapel, along IBB Way in Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Seyi Adekunle, was reportedly abducted by unidentified gunmen
There was confusion among members of the church who had gathered at the to pray on Saturday, as the senior resident Pastor of Winners Chapel, Mr. Seyi Adekunle, was reportedly abducted by unidentified gunmen who stormed the church premises around 8pm.
Sources says even though the church is located along IBB Way, next to the headquarters of the Airport Division of the Nigeria Police in Calabar, Cross River State, it took officers of the division 30 minutes to arrive at the church after they were alerted about the incident.
An eye witness told reporters, “The kidnappers came in during the normal Saturday prayers around 8pm. A group, which includes the pastor, normally gathers to pray for the next day’s (Sunday) service. They were praying when the kidnappers came in unnoticed.
“Three of them were armed while a fourth one, who was not armed, came forward to identify Pastor Ademola to the kidnappers. Their vehicle was on standby. I am sure the person that identified the pastor among those praying was an insider; someone who knows the church. They walked in quietly when the prayer session was on.”
Another eyewitness said the police were contacted while the kidnappers were still inside the church, but added that their response was slow.
“They wasted some time before they drove towards the bypass. I am sure if the police had come at the nick of time, they would have been able to rescue the pastor,” he said.