Kidnapers have demanded N100 million ransom per victim before they would release the worshippers they took from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Secretary of the CAC assembly, Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, told revealed this, saying the bandits have contacted some.:01
Agbabiaka said “It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom.
“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 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 said.
Olukotun said he was in the church with five members of his family during the attack, adding that he escaped through a window while others were taken away.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the town, Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has called for quick government intervention to free the victims.
“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.
He said more needed to be done.
“But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible.”
The spokesperson of the Kwara State Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command was yet to receive 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.
“Our tactical teams, alongside the military and other security agencies, are on ground and making concerted efforts to rescue the abducted victims.”
