“She kept on trying the line, but it remained switched off. At about noon, she contacted a family member to go to the police station to report. That was on Friday.”

The source said further that when the pastor’s relatives got to the police station, he met family members of other kidnapping victims.

He learned that the police recovered the abandoned commercial bus and some phones belonging to some victims.

The wife of the pastor reportedly waited in vain for the call from the kidnappers until Saturday morning, when she learned that one of the kidnapping victims who was able to escape had his phone and called the police.

Hunters came into the bush and dislodged the kidnappers, making them and their victims flee in different directions.

“Till now, she has not been able to communicate with her husband, as the kidnappers did not call,” the source added.

The spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the kidnapping case on Saturday but said that some of them had been rescued.

The PPRO disclosed that police operatives, in collaboration with other security agencies and local hunters, were in the forest and surrounding areas of the incident to rescue the remaining victims and arrest the suspects.

“Some of the rescued victims are assisting with useful leads that can help the investigation. All routes around the area, including the adjoining forest areas, are being combed. Investigation is ongoing. Updates would be provided accordingly,” he added.