Apostle Okoriko: Abductors slash ransom to N30m

Dennis Udoma, Uyo

The gunmen that abducted fearless preacher and founder of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church in Akwa Ibom State, Apostle John Okoriko, have reduced the ransom they are demanding for his release from N100 million to N30 million.

Apostle Okoriko was whisked away from his residence on Tuesday by the gunmen who stormed his residence, shooting sporadically into the air to scare people, before making away with him.

Since his abduction, there has been fear and tension around Ikot Ebak community in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state with the people not knowing what to expect next.

Though no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the kidnap of the cleric, the family is said to still be in deep shock and confusion, especially as a source in the family said that even the new ransom being demanded by the kidnappers cannot be raised.

According to the family source who did not want to be named, “the abductors earlier demanded N100m but when the family could not raise the amount, they brought it down to N30m.

“This morning, the man of God called us to say that his abductors are now looking for N30m. We don’t have such money. we are still begging them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, Odiko MacDon has said, that the police command was working hard to free the Apostle, stressing that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Andrew Ammieghene, had ordered urgent investigation into the incident.

Apostle Okoriko preaches mostly on faith, and in 2007, published a book titled, “Every Satan has a human Face.”