Gunmen kidnap Pastor, 2 others in Ekeremor, Bayelsa

Few days after the 100 year old mother of Bayelsa Deputy Governorship Candidate , Rev. Mark Christmas, a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), New Anointing Chapel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his hometown.

Despite promises by Bayelsa Police Command to free the centenarian, his whereabouts remain unknown.

The Pastor’s Wife, Mrs Evelyn Christmas said that her husband was kidnapped with two other persons on Oct. 18.

She said that the incident happened in their hometown, Biseingbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa.

Christmas said that her husband was invited to the community for a meeting by unknown persons on the fateful day.

“When he got to the community, he found out that the invitation was not only false but a devilish plan to kidnap him,” she said.

Christmas said that the pastor had stayed over two weeks in their custody as they demanded N200, 000 for all their phone calls and N300 million as ransom.

“It is over two weeks and I have not heard or seen my husband but some of our family members, who live in the village, told me that they spoke with them.

“On reporting to the police, well, I planned to contact the Police, but the family members said that I should not involve the police to avoid incurring more danger.

“The reason is that my husband might be killed by the hoodlums if the police is involved in the matter.

Christmas described the situation as ”very painful your husband being snatch out from you for over two weeks now.

“You cannot even speak with him on phone or neither will he call you; I am worried and I am praying that my husband will come back alive,” she said.

The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in Bayelsa, ASP Asinim Butswat, when contacted, said the family had not reported the matter to the police.

“They have not reported the incident to us, but if they come to us, we are ready to mobilise ourselves,” Butswat said.