The founder and President of Solid Rock Church, Apostle John Okoriko, has so far spent three days in an undisclosed hideout as his abductors asked his family to pay N30 million ransom.
Okoriko was abducted by unknown gunmen at his residence in Ibekwe Akpan Nya in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.
Family sources, who spoke to newsmen in Uyo on Friday, stated that the abductors used the victim’s phone number to communicate with the family so they could raise money.
Recall that the abductors had on Tuesday, demanded for N100 million ransom when contact was established with the family shortly after the kidnap.
Read also: Gunmen demand N100m ransom to free abducted Nigerian Clergyman
“This morning again, the man of God called us and said that his abductors are now looking for N30 million. We don’t have such money. We are still begging them,” a source from the family who pleaded anonymity stated.
However, some stakeholders in the church are requesting members to stop all social media postings to help security agencies in intelligence gathering on the abduction of the man of God.
Okoriko was abducted when unknown gunmen invaded his compound and whisked him away into bush on Tuesday.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the hoodlums fired several shots and escaped with the man of God into a nearby bush to an unknown destination.
Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon in a telephone interview with our reporter assured the public that the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiegheme, had ordered investigation into the incident.