By Demola Akinyemi
Fear of another terrorist attack has forced residents of Omugo, Oro-Ago District, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State to flee the community, leaving behind vigilantes and hunters securing their properties.
Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin on Thursday, spokesperson of the concerned citizens of the community, Jimoh Olaitan, appealed to the state government to restore security to enable residents to return to their homes.
He also urged the government to implement interagency security in the community and intervene in the rescue efforts to ensure that the aged worshippers are released unhurt.
Recall that 18 days ago, terrorists invaded Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) during a weekly Sunday service and abducted eight aged worshippers.
Olaitan also told journalists that the terrorists, who had reduced the ransom from the initial N1billion to N150 million, insisted on collecting the amount before they would let go of the aged worshippers.
Said Mr Olaitan: “Omugo community is deserted. People are moving out in droves. If you go there now, you will only meet vigilantes and hunters who are securing the property left behind. We have a police post but no police personnel manning the station.
“We are appealing to the state government to restore security to the community so that our people can go back home to carry out their daily activities.
“The abductors have reduced the ransom to N150 million. They are bent on collecting that sum of money.”
He explained, “Reports from contacts with the abductors indicate that an initial ransom demand of ₦1 billion was made and later reduced to ₦150 million—an amount far beyond the financial capacity of the victims’ families and the community.”
Continuing, the spokesperson added that “we are desperately appealing for the rescue of eight abducted Worshippers and total Security Intervention in Omugo community.
“This is the third time in six months that the shadow of terror has fallen upon our land. This time, the predators succeeded, turning a day of worship into a nightmare of blood and tears.
“This is not merely a security breach; it is a brutal assault on our faith, our dignity, and our very right to exist.
“In the light of this development, the community urged the federal, state and Ifelodun local governments and all relevant security agencies to launch a coordinated, intelligence-driven rescue operation to secure the safe and unconditional release of the abducted worshippers; immediate deployment of police personnel, equipment, and logistics to activate the station and ensure a permanent security presence; establishment of a permanent Joint Task Force (JTF) base in Omugo and integration of local vigilante and hunter groups,” he said.
