By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Six worshippers abducted from the Celestial Church of Christ, Jordan Parish, in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, remain in grave danger as kidnappers have threatened to kill them if a ransom of ₦10 million is not delivered by 1 p.m. on Monday.
The victims were seized last Wednesday during an early morning prayer service when armed men stormed the church along the Benin–Owo Expressway.
Sources told Sahara Reporters that the kidnappers issued a strict deadline, warning that all hostages would be executed if the money was not paid.
The church pastor has reportedly sold his car and other personal belongings, while members of the community pooled resources to raise the ransom. Although the demanded amount has been gathered, uncertainty remains over how to safely deliver the money without further endangering lives.
Community members expressed frustration at the lack of government intervention. Multiple sources told Sahara Reporters that neither the Ondo State Government nor security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), have taken concrete steps to secure the victims’ release. Residents accused authorities of neglect, noting that apart from an initial police visit after the abduction, there has been no sustained security presence.
The kidnappers have also threatened to return for more abductions, specifically targeting the church pastor. This has heightened fear among worshippers, who now worry about attending services. “Lives are at stake, yet the government has refused to acknowledge the danger,” one source lamented.
This incident follows a string of violent attacks in Ondo State, including the recent kidnapping of a couple in Ilu-Abo community, Akure North. Residents say repeated assaults by armed groups have deepened anxiety and eroded confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.
The abduction of the six church members underscores the worsening security crisis in Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom has become a recurring nightmare for families, communities and religious institutions.