Bandits who invaded the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded N100 million ransom for each abducted worshipper, according to relatives and community leaders who have begun receiving calls from the kidnappers.
The attackers stormed the church during a Tuesday evening service and whisked away between 30 and 35 worshippers, the pastor in charge of the assembly, Lawrence Bamidele, confirmed. He said the armed men arrived suddenly, shooting sporadically and dragging victims into the surrounding bush before security operatives could respond.
Multiple family members and community leaders told The PUNCH on Thursday that the kidnappers had started using the victims’ phones to reach out to relatives.
The Secretary of the church, Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, said the abductors had already contacted several families.
“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom,” Agbabiaka said. “From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100m each.”
The Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, who has four relatives among the abducted, also confirmed the development. He explained that the kidnappers were calling families in batches depending on how the victims were grouped.
“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person. They said the victims were grouped, and they are calling each group’s relatives,” he said.
Olukotun narrated that he was inside the church with five members of his family when the gunmen struck. He managed to escape through a window while the others were taken away.
Meanwhile, the Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts. The monarch confirmed that soldiers arrived in the town shortly after the governor’s visit, a move he described as encouraging.
“Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding,” he said. “But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible.”
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the police had not received any formal report of ransom demands.
“We are not aware of any demand for ransom or contact made to the family members of the victims,” she said. She added that tactical teams of the police, military and other agencies were already on ground and working to rescue the victims.
The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, had urged residents to provide credible information that could support ongoing operations. “The CP assures residents that the police will continue to do everything possible to secure lives and property in Kwara State,” she added.
The Eruku church attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents across Kwara in recent months, deepening fears over the expanding influence of bandit groups. The surge in insecurity has unsettled many residents, who say the state — once considered relatively safe in the North-Central region — is now witnessing an alarming rise in criminal activity.
