The Christ Apostolic Church at Oke-Igan, Eruku, in Kwara State’s Ekiti Local Government Area was kidnapped by bandits, who demanded ₦100 million ransom for each victim.
Between thirty and thirty-five attendees were abducted during the brutal Tuesday night attack, according to Lawrence Bamidele, the church’s head pastor, who talked with Punch.
On Thursday, a number of family members and local authorities verified that the abductors had begun contacting relatives using the abductees’ phones.
The kidnappers have already gotten in touch with a number of families, according to Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, the church secretary.
“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom,” Agbabiaka said to Punch.
We were informed that the victims were grouped. The first group of eleven individuals has been asked to pay ₦100 million apiece.
Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, also confirmed the development, stating that the ransom demands were coming in stages.
“The kidnappers have called some members of the community, demanding ₦100 million for each individual,” he stated.
“They claimed to have grouped the victims and are contacting the relatives of each group.”
According to Olukotun’s account, five members of his family were inside the church when the incident took place. He claimed that when four of his family were being carried away, he managed to flee through a window.
The town’s traditional ruler, Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has called for increased rescue operations.
Following Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s visit, the king declared that military reinforcements had arrived.
“Minutes after the governor’s visit last night, soldiers entered our community,” he stated. We felt a sense of security in their company.
“However, we are still pleading for increased efforts to save our people as soon as possible.”
Police: “No Official Report on Ransom Yet”
In response, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer, stated that the command had not received a formal report on ransom demands.
“We don’t know of any ransom demands or communications with the victims’ relatives,” she said.
Together with the military and other organizations, she said, tactical teams had been sent in for rescue missions.
In order to support the effort, Ejire-Adeyemi stated that Adekimi Ojo, the Commissioner of Police, asked locals to submit timely intelligence.
“The police will continue to do everything possible to secure lives and property in Kwara State, the CP assures residents,” she stated.
The attack on the Eruku church is the most recent in a series of violent events that have unnerved Kwara communities in recent months.
