Kwara Church Kidnappers Ask for N100 Million Ransom Per Victim

In the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, bandits kidnapped congregants from the Christ Apostolic Church in Oke-Igan, Eruku, and demanded ₦100 million ransom for each victim.

The church’s head pastor, Lawrence Bamidele, told Punch that between thirty and thirty-five attendees were abducted during the horrific raid on Tuesday night.

On Thursday, a number of relatives and local authorities verified that the abductors had begun contacting family members using the abductees’ phones.

Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, the church secretary, reported that the kidnappers had already made contact with a number of households.

“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom,” Agbabiaka told Punch.

According to what we were told, the victims were grouped. Eleven individuals in the first group have been asked to pay ₦100 million each.

Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, confirmed the development and stated that the ransom demands were coming in stages.

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding ₦100m for each person,” he stated.

“They said the victims were divided into groups, and they are contacting the relatives of each group.”

According to Olukotun’s account, the incident happened while he and five members of his family were inside the church. He claimed that as four of his family were being carried away, he managed to flee through a window.

Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, the town’s traditional ruler, has called for increased rescue efforts.

Following the visit of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the king confirmed the coming of military reinforcements.

“Soldiers entered our community last night minutes after the governor visited,” he stated. We felt somewhat reassured by their presence.

“However, we continue to urge that efforts be stepped up to save our people as soon as possible.”

“No Official Ransom Report Yet,” the police said.
In response, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer, stated that the command had not received a formal report on ransom requests.

“We don’t know of any contact or ransom demands made to the victims’ relatives,” she said.

She mentioned that rescue operations had involved the deployment of tactical teams in addition to the military and other authorities.

According to Ejire-Adeyemi, Adekimi Ojo, the Commissioner of Police, asked locals to contribute timely intelligence to support the effort.

According to her, “the CP reassures residents that the police will continue to do everything possible to secure lives and property in Kwara State.”

Kwara communities have been uneasy in recent months due to a series of violent incidents, the most recent of which is the attack on the Eruku church.