Armed assailants who seized around 35 congregants from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have allegedly demanded a ransom of N100 million for each captive, The PUNCH has gathered.
Several relatives and community leaders confirmed on Thursday that the kidnappers had reached out to the families of those taken, using the victims’ own phones during the Tuesday night raid.
The Secretary of the CAC congregation, Josiah Agbabiaka, told The PUNCH that some households had already been contacted by the abductors.
“It is true that the criminals have begun calling family members through the victims’ phones to request ransom.
“From what we heard, they divided the hostages into groups. The first set of 11 individuals has been asked to pay N100 million apiece,” Agbabiaka explained.
Also corroborating the situation, the Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun—whose four relatives were among those taken—said the kidnappers were making calls in an organized manner.
“Some residents have received phone calls from the abductors demanding N100 million for each person. They mentioned that the victims were grouped, and they are contacting relatives of each group,” he told The PUNCH.
Olukotun, who was inside the church with five family members during the assault, said he managed to flee through a window while others were captured.
Meanwhile, the town’s traditional ruler, Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has appealed for immediate government action to secure the safe release of the victims.
The monarch praised the prompt deployment of soldiers to the community following the visit of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Wednesday but emphasized that stronger measures were still required.
“Last night, troops entered our town shortly after the governor’s visit. Their presence gave us some reassurance that the authorities are responding.
“But we are still urging that efforts be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible,” the monarch stated.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, declined to comment, saying only: “Kindly speak to the police.”
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command had not received any official report of ransom demands.
“We are not aware of any ransom request or communication with the victims’ families.
“Our tactical units, together with the military and other security agencies, are on the ground making determined efforts to free those abducted,” she told The PUNCH on Thursday.
Ejire-Adeyemi added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, had urged residents and relatives of the kidnapped persons to provide timely intelligence that could support the rescue mission.
“The CP assures the public that the police will continue to do everything possible to safeguard lives and property in Kwara State,” she said.
The assault on the Eruku church is the latest in a string of violent episodes unsettling communities across Kwara State in recent months.
These recurring incidents have deepened anxiety over the expanding influence of banditry in Kwara, a state once regarded as relatively secure within the North-Central region.
SOURCE: PUNCH
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