No fewer than eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) were abducted by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Southern Kaduna, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

The church members of Region 30, Province 1 in the state capital were abducted Friday along Kachia road while going for evangelism.

A resident, Tanko Makeri, told The Gazette on Saturday morning that the church members were kidnapped at gunpoint along the express road between Doka and Makyali village.

“Well, I don’t know the specific number of persons that were kidnapped in the abandoned bus we saw along the expressway,” Mr Makeri said.

The Tribune reported that the incident occurred around 6:00 p.m., citing a senior pastor of the church saying that their abductors demanded a N50 million ransom for their release.

The police command spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige confirmed the incident to The Gazette when contacted by phone Saturday morning.

“I have been trying to find out the exact number of persons that were kidnapped by the gunmen. I just got the information from the Divisional Police Officer in Kajuru.”

Bandits have continued to unleash mayhem on residents living in Kaduna and its environs on a weekly basis. That has led to the abduction of many residents over the years.

The kidnapping activities in the state is gaining momentum as the brigands kidnap people both on highways and homes going unchallenged by security operatives in most reported cases.