Unknown gunmen have reportedly invaded the First Baptist Church Nekede in Imo State and abducted worshippers and the wife of Imo State Zoo General Manager, Bola Abioye.
Narrating the ugly development, a worshipper who gave her name as Dr Blessing said the church had just concluded thanksgiving while members were heading to the car park to drive out to the venue of merriment when the gunmen struck.
The gunmen reportedly operated with a Sienna Ash-coloured-tinted glass in in police vest.
“The church had just dismissed so everyone was heading to the car park with the intention to go to the home of the member only for an Ash-coloured Sienna vehicle to drive in, shooting sporadically.
"The abductors who wore police vests were shooting right there at the car park.
"They first dragged a woman but after some seconds, one of them shouted it’s not this one.
“Before they went to drag Mrs Abioye, shooting directly to scare people away.
"Though she tried to resist, there was so much commotion. And within minutes, they drove off still shooting.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, stated that the command is yet to be informed about the ugly incident and promised to provide further details.
Meanwhile, AllNews Nigeria reports that in less than a month, Nigeria has recorded several attacks in churches, leading to the killing of worshippers and abduction of clerics, especially Catholic Priests.
On May 25, two Catholic priests and two of their cooks were kidnapped by gunmen at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Priests, Rev. Fr. Stephen Ojapa and Fr Oliver Okpara who were abducted when the assailants invaded the parish, are yet to regain freedom at the time of filing this report.
Similarly, a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Christopher Onotu was kidnapped by gunmen at Obangede, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State on June 5.
The Priest was whisked away from his room when the criminal elements invaded the church area at about 9 pm.
Barely twelve hours later, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state on June 6, opened fire on unarmed worshippers and gunned down 40 persons while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The remains of the 40 worshippers were interred amid tears on Friday, June 17.
The St Mary Catholic Church, Owukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State was also attacked a few days ago when suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the church premises to kidnap the priest.
The Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Samuel Kanu-Uche, was kidnapped on May 29 when he was attacked in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
Barely three days in the kidnapper’s den, Kanu-Uche was, however, released by his abductors after a N100 million ransom was paid.
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