Fresh revelations have emerged indicating that the terrorists who abducted scores of worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million per victim.
Family members and community representatives said on Thursday that the attackers used mobile phones taken from the abducted worshippers to contact relatives. The ransom calls reportedly began late on Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning.
The secretary of the church, Josiah Agbabiaka, confirmed that the kidnappers had already contacted several families. He explained that the terrorists had separated the abducted worshippers into clusters to manage communication and negotiation.
“From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100 million each,” Agbabiaka said.
The Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, who has four relatives among the abducted, also confirmed that calls had been made to some households. He said the abductors were “calling each group’s relatives in stages.” Olukotun disclosed that he narrowly escaped the attack by fleeing through a window while other members of his family were seized.
The traditional ruler of the town, the Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, appealed for urgent and intensified rescue efforts. He acknowledged the deployment of soldiers following Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s visit on Wednesday, but insisted that the situation required even stronger intervention.
“We are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible,” the monarch said.
When contacted regarding the ransom claims, the governor’s spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, declined to comment and directed journalists to the police.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, said the command had not yet received any formal report regarding ransom demands. She confirmed that police units, the military and other security agencies were already conducting coordinated operations to rescue the victims. Adeyemi urged residents to provide timely information that could support the ongoing mission.
The attack on the church—during which two worshippers were killed and more than 30 abducted—is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Kwara in recent weeks. Rising insecurity across the Kwara–Kogi border axis has unsettled surrounding communities and prompted intensified security deployments.
