BIG RANSOM: Bandits Demand N3 Billion To Free Abducted CAC Members

In a troubling incident reported by The PUNCH, armed bandits have kidnapped worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, located in the Eruku area of Kwara State’s Ekiti Local Government.

The kidnappers have allegedly demanded a ransom of N100 million for each victim.

Pastor Lawrence Bamidele, who leads the church, indicated that between 30 and 35 congregants were taken during this violent attack, which occurred on a Tuesday evening when the church service was underway.

Multiple sources from the families of the abducted individuals, as well as community leaders, have verified that the kidnappers have begun reaching out to relatives, using the victims’ mobile phones.

Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, the Secretary of the CAC assembly, confirmed to The PUNCH that the abductors have already contacted some families.

“The bandits have indeed started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom,” Agbabiaka said.

“From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100m each.”
Also confirming the development, the Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, whose four family members were among those abducted, said the kidnappers were reaching out systematically.

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person. They said the victims were grouped, and they are calling each group’s relatives,” he told The PUNCH.

Olukotun, who narrated that he was inside the church with five members of his family during the attack, said he managed to escape through a window while others were taken away.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the town, Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has appealed for urgent government intervention to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.

The monarch commended the swift deployment of military personnel to the community following the visit of the state governor, but stressed that more needed to be done.

“Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding,” the monarch said.

“But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command had not received any official report of ransom demand.

“We are not aware of any demand for ransom or contact made to the family members of the victims,” she said when contacted on Thursday.

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

Ejire-Adeyemi added that the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, had urged community members and relatives of the abducted persons to provide timely information that could aid the operation.

“The CP assures residents that the police will continue to do everything possible to secure lives and property in Kwara State,” she added.

The attack on the Eruku church is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have rattled communities across Kwara State in recent months.

The recent incidents have heightened fears over the growing reach of banditry in Kwara, a state historically considered one of the safer in the North-Central region.