Bandits who abducted worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million per victim, amounting to over N3 billion if all abductees are to be released.

Pastor-in-charge of the church, Lawrence Bamidele, said between 30 and 35 congregants were seized during the Tuesday evening attack on the church.

Multiple family sources and community leaders confirmed on Thursday that the kidnappers had begun contacting relatives using the victims’ phones.

The Secretary of the CAC assembly, Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, said some families had already been reached.

“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom,” he 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, whose four relatives were abducted, said the kidnappers were contacting families in batches.

“Some people in the community have received calls demanding N100m per person. They said the victims were grouped and are calling each group’s relatives,” he explained.

Olukotun recounted that he was inside the church with five family members when the gunmen struck. He escaped through a window, but others were taken away.

The Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, appealed for immediate government action to ensure the victims’ safe rescue. He commended the deployment of soldiers to the community following a visit by the state governor but insisted that more decisive steps were needed.

“Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding,” the monarch said.
“But we are still appealing that efforts be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible.”

The spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command had yet to receive any official report on ransom demands.

“We are not aware of any demand for ransom or contact made to family members,” she said.

“Our tactical teams, alongside the military and other security agencies, are making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted victims.”

She added that the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, urged residents to provide timely information that could aid ongoing operations.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday condemned the attack, describing it as “a heartbreaking reminder of the growing insecurity facing Christian communities across the country.”

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, expressed sadness over the attack and called for swift action.

“We stand in solidarity with the families who lost loved ones, with those injured, with the abducted, and with the entire Eruku community. Their pain is our collective pain,” he said.

He urged a transparent investigation into the attack, saying it formed part of a disturbing pattern of assaults on Christian populations in vulnerable regions.

Community accuses council chairman of negligence

Tension escalated in Eruku on Thursday as residents, youths, vigilante members, and some security operatives openly confronted the Chairman of Ekiti LGA, Awelewa Olawale Gabriel, accusing him of negligence and poor support for local security efforts.

A youth leader, Shola Peters, alleged that the chairman had abandoned the community despite months of repeated attacks.

“He does not pick calls, not from residents, not from the monarch, not when we need to give security updates,” Peters said.

“Since he was sworn in, he stays only in Osi.”

Another resident, Funmi Anifowose, said weakened support from the council had left the once-effective vigilante network struggling.

“Our vigilantes used to keep the town secure, but now they don’t have ammunition,” she said. “I can’t even go to my farm again.”

A security operative attached to a special squad also criticised the council’s logistics support.

“Patrolling from Osi to Eruku is about 120 kilometres. They give us just 25 litres of fuel,” he said.

Council denies allegations

Reacting, the Speaker of the Ekiti LGA Legislative Assembly, Fatoyinbo Michael, who spoke on behalf of the chairman, dismissed the accusations as “a farce, untrue, and an attempt to malign the council chairman.”

He said the chairman acted promptly after the attack was reported, mobilising vigilante members the same night.

Michael listed several interventions by the council, including:

refurbishment of a grounded police Hilux for N3.6 million,

purchase of a Bajaj motorcycle for the Divisional Police Officer,

supply of pump-action rifles and ammunition,

and the recent handover of two packs of cartridges to the Chief Akogun of Eruku.

“Anyone saying the chairman is doing nothing is either uninformed or playing politics,” he said.