Bandits who abducted congregants from Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, are reportedly demanding N100 million per victim, The PUNCH has learned.
Pastor Lawrence Bamidele, who leads the church, confirmed that between 30 and 35 worshippers were taken during a violent attack on Tuesday evening while the congregation was in service.
Multiple community leaders and family members told The PUNCH on Thursday that the abductors had begun contacting relatives using the victims’ mobile phones to make ransom demands.
Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, Secretary of the church, said, “It is true that the bandits have started reaching out to family members using the victims’ phones. They have grouped the victims, and the first group of 11 has been asked to pay N100 million each.”
Chief Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, who had four family members kidnapped, confirmed the kidnappers were systematically contacting relatives. He recounted that he escaped through a window during the attack while others were taken away.
Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, appealed for urgent government action to rescue the victims. He acknowledged the swift deployment of military personnel following the state governor’s visit but stressed that more efforts were needed.
“Soldiers entered our community shortly after the governor visited, which reassured us that the government is responding,” the monarch said. “However, we appeal for intensified efforts to rescue our people as quickly as possible.”
The Kwara State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, stated it had not received any official reports of ransom demands. She assured residents that police, alongside the military and other security agencies, were working tirelessly to secure the abducted individuals.
Ejire-Adeyemi also urged community members and relatives to provide timely information to aid the rescue operation, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, remains committed to protecting lives and property in the state.
The attack adds to a series of violent incidents that have unsettled communities across Kwara, traditionally considered one of the safer states in the North-Central region.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with victims’ families and the Eruku community. He called for a transparent investigation to identify security lapses and bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasizing that repeated assaults on Christian communities in vulnerable areas are a growing concern.
Meanwhile, tensions rose between residents and the Eruku LGA Chairman, Awelewa Olawale Gabriel, over alleged negligence in supporting local security. Community members accused the chairman of being inaccessible and failing to assist the local vigilante network, which has been critical to community safety.
Youth leader Shola Peters claimed the chairman “does not pick calls from residents, the monarch, or anyone providing security updates.” Another resident, Funmi Anifowose, said limited council support left vigilantes without ammunition, preventing farmers from attending to their farms safely.
In response, Fatoyinbo Micheal, Speaker of the Ekiti LGA Legislative Assembly, defended the chairman, describing the accusations as baseless. He outlined several interventions, including mobilizing vigilantes, supplying firearms and ammunition, refurbishing police vehicles, and providing other security resources.
“Any claim that the chairman is doing nothing is either uninformed or politically motivated,” Micheal said, noting that immediate actions were taken once the attack was reported.
