Four Christian worshippers kidnapped from a Celestial Church of Christ parish in Uso community, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have been released after their families reportedly paid N5 million to their abductors.

The victims were seized during a night vigil when armed men stormed the church, located along the busy Owo–Benin Expressway. Worshippers were said to have been thrown into panic as the gunmen fired sporadically before marching selected congregants into the surrounding bush.

One of the abducted worshippers managed to escape shortly after the incident, providing security agencies with crucial information about the attackers and the direction they fled. Police later arrested an alleged informant believed to have aided the kidnappers by supplying intelligence on the church’s activities and movement of worshippers.

Family members of the remaining captives were soon contacted by the kidnappers, who initially demanded N100 million as ransom. Negotiations reportedly dragged on for days as relatives, church members and community leaders struggled to raise funds, eventually persuading the abductors to reduce their demand.

A relative of one of the victims, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said the families pooled resources to gather N5 million, which was delivered at a designated location agreed with the kidnappers. The hostages were later released at Ilado community, not far from where they were originally taken.

According to the family source, the freed worshippers were visibly traumatized and exhausted after days in captivity. Some were immediately taken to hospital for medical attention following the harsh conditions they reportedly endured in the forest hideout.

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the release of the victims and said they had been reunited with their families. He added that investigations are ongoing to track down the remaining members of the kidnapping gang and dismantle the network behind the attack.

The incident has renewed concerns over rising cases of abduction along major highways and in rural communities in Ondo State, with residents and religious leaders calling for increased security presence and more decisive action against criminal gangs targeting worship centres and travellers.