Suspected bandits who abducted 38 worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million per victim, community leaders confirmed on Thursday.
The attack occurred on Tuesday evening, when armed men stormed the church during a service, shooting sporadically before marching dozens of congregants — including the pastor — into the adjoining forest.
Confirming the development, the Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, said he narrowly escaped the assault with one of his wards after slipping out through a window at about 6:06 p.m.
“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 said four members of his family are among the abducted. He added that the kidnappers had “grouped the victims according to their relations” and were reaching out to families individually.
The community leader also commended Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for promptly contacting the community after the incident but appealed for stronger security presence in the border region.
“We appreciate the governor for his quick response, but we need more boots on the ground,” he said.
“Our vigilantes need better weapons. These attackers came with sophisticated firearms.”
The Eruku axis spanning the Eruku–Egbe, Osi–Obbo and Obbo–Aiyegunle corridor has recorded multiple cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and bandit incursions in recent months, deepening fears among residents and commuters.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the latest abduction, but community members say joint security teams have begun combing surrounding forests in search of the victims.
