Did bandits kidnap 20 persons in Kara, near Lagos, earlier today, Tuesday, August 9, 2022? And are members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) returning from the Redemption Camp now targets of bandits and kidnappers?

An RCCG pastor, Gbenga Obaleye, says the answers are in the positive but the police say he is lying. In a post on his Facebook page, Obaleye urged the police and other security agencies to do something urgent, claiming that he just witnessed the kidnap of 20 church members in Kara.

He wrote: “This is not spoiling any tribe, my members in my church were coming from camp this morning at 5:30am, the fulanis came out from the KARA where they use to sell cows, 20 people have been taken into the bush, that little bush, my members left the car and ran back, shooting, they came back all money, laptop ATM have been taken, the phone they stole we used now to locate where they are as at 7am, pls police in Ogun axis pls help us not to disturb people in that area, truly they are all over I can”t believe this.”

In another post, Obaleye said he was sure that the bandits were targeting RCCG members returning from the Redemption Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“Kara is dangerous now when you are coming from Camp, the fulanis almost kidnapped members of my church 30mins ago, am sure they are targeting people coming from camp,” Obaleye said.

Reacting to the pastor’s claims, the Ogun State Police Command described them as “nothing but fake and lie from the pit of hell”.

It said in a statement issued by the Command Spokesman, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi: “The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to news circulating on social media that 20 people were kidnapped by bandits on Kara bridge along Lagos/Ibadan expressway.

“In order to dispel the wicked rumor which is capable of causing panic in the mind of the public, the command wishes to inform the public that the said news is nothing but fake and lie from the pit of hell.

“There is nothing like kidnapping of one talkless of 20 persons at the Kara bridge or anywhere along Lagos- Ibadan expressway.

“Those behind the fake news are mere mischief makers, who always derive joy from causing unnecessary panic in the mind of innocent members of the public.

“The general public are hereby advised to discontenance the fake news as nothing of such happened at the said Kara bridge.

“In view of the road construction work going on in that axis, the commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered 24hrs surveillance patrol of the area to checkmate the activities of hoodlums who might wanted to take advantage of the traffic jams to perpetrate evils.”