Suspected bandits who abducted 38 worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million per victim, THISDAY has learnt.
The gunmen invaded the church during an evening service on Tuesday, shooting sporadically before marching dozens of worshippers—including the pastor—into the surrounding forest.
A community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, whose four relatives are among the abducted, confirmed the ransom demand in an interview on Thursday night.
Olukotun said he was inside the church with five members of his family when the attack occurred but managed to escape with one of his wards through a window at about 6:06 p.m.
He disclosed that the kidnappers had “grouped the victims according to their relations” and were contacting families individually.
“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person,” he said. “As for my own family, I have not received any call yet, but we’re still waiting.”
Olukotun expressed appreciation to the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for promptly reaching out to the community but appealed for more security deployment to Eruku and surrounding communities, given their vulnerability as border towns.
He also urged government authorities to equip local vigilantes with better weapons, noting that the attackers appeared to possess sophisticated firearms.
The Eruku axis—stretching through the Eruku–Egbe, Osi–Obbo, and Obbo–Aiyegunle corridor—has suffered repeated incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery and bandit incursions in recent months, heightening residents’ fears.
Hameed Shittu
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