The arrested suspect | Credit: The Punch

The Osun Police Command in Nigeria has advised parishes of the Celestial Church of Christ and other religious bodies located in isolated areas against holding vigils or events late in the evening or early in the morning.

According to Punch Metro, the command's spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, gave this advice during a parade of suspects who invaded a parish of the Church located in Odu Village near Osogbo and abducted 12 members. The abducted members later escaped from their captors when hunters and local volunteers responded to the distress call and chased the attackers.

A guest gospel artiste at the event recounted the unfortunate incident to The Punch, stating, "I arrived at the church a few minutes past 10 pm on Monday to prepare for the vigil. We commenced the vigil around midnight. After my performance, my drummers remained in the church, but I stepped out. 

"A few minutes later, while I was with the pastor, we started hearing gunshots. The church is located in a wooded area, so we all fled into the forest. At one point, seven of us gathered in the woods – six women and a man. As we wandered in the forest, two armed men suddenly appeared in front of us, and we all scattered in different directions. I hid inside a stream until daybreak."

Tags: