Eight out of the twenty-five Christian worshippers abducted by suspected gunmen in Ondo State, on Friday, have been rescued from captivity.

This came after the Peoples Gazette reported members of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Igan, in Akure, the state capital, travelling for a burial programme on Ifon road in Ose LGA of the state were abducted by suspected gunmen.

A member of the church, who pleaded not to be named, had told reporters in the early hours of Saturday that the kidnapped victims were mostly choir members of the church.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson for the Police in Ondo confirmed the development in a fresh update released to reporters in Akure on Saturday afternoon.

“The rescued victims said they are members of C.A.C Akure, and they were on their way to a wake keep.” She added, “On getting to Ajagbale via Elegbeka on Ifon/Owo expressway they were accosted by five unknown gunmen who shot sporadically and forcefully took them into the bush.”

She added that the rescued worshippers are currently at the Ipele Police Divisional headquarters in the Owo area of the state.

Also, the Amotekun commander in the state, Adetunji Adeleye confirmed the rescue of the eight worshippers in a brief with reporters in Akure, on Saturday.

Mr Adeleye said the rescued victims, including a nurse, were abducted on their way to a burial programme in Ifon Ose Local Council Area of the state.

“Eight of them, including a nurse, have been rescued after they escaped from the kidnappers’ den,” he revealed.

Mr Adeleye disclosed that his men, with the officers of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army and other security agencies, are already in the bush to rescue other abducted victims.