Kidnappers who abducted about 35 worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have reportedly asked for ₦100 million for each hostage.
Sources within the community, including relatives of those taken, told The PUNCH on Thursday that the abductors were reaching out using phones belonging to the victims. The attack occurred during a church programme on Tuesday evening.
The church secretary, Josiah Agbabiaka, confirmed that families had started receiving calls.
“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom.
“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 said four of his relatives were among those taken—also verified the ransom request.
“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person. They said the victims were grouped and they are calling each group’s relatives,” he said.
Olukotun recounted that he was inside the church with five family members at the time of the attack but managed to escape through a window while others were abducted.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler, the Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has appealed for urgent federal and state intervention to secure the victims’ release.
He acknowledged the deployment of soldiers shortly after Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited on Wednesday but stressed that further action was required.
“Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding.
“But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible,” the monarch said.
When asked to comment, Rafiu Ajakaye, spokesperson for the governor, declined, saying, “Kindly speak to the police.”
However, the Kwara state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command had not received any formal report of a ransom request.
“We are not aware of any demand for ransom or contact made to the family members of the victims.
“Our tactical teams, alongside the military and other security agencies, are on ground and making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted victims,” she said.
She added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, had urged residents to provide useful information that could aid rescue operations.
The incident has further fuelled anxiety in Kwara State, which has witnessed several violent attacks in recent months despite its reputation as one of the more stable states in the North-Central region.
