Eruku Church Attack: Kidnappers Demand N3.8bn Ransom for 38 Abducted Worshippers
Kidnappers who attacked Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have demanded a total ransom of N3.8 billion for the release of 38 abducted worshippers.
The gunmen contacted families of the victims on Thursday, asking for N100 million per abductee. Community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun—whose four relatives are among the kidnapped—confirmed that he received a call from the captors.
Olukotun, who narrowly escaped the attack alongside one of his wards, said the gunmen have separated the victims into groups based on their family ties and are calling relatives one group at a time. He appealed for stronger security presence in Eruku, a border community, and urged authorities to equip vigilante groups with more sophisticated weapons to counter future attacks.
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council condemned the incident as “sad, dastardly, and unpatriotic,” noting that it occurred despite ongoing government efforts to curb banditry and terrorism nationwide. He called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations and prayed for the repose of worshippers who were killed during the attack.
In a related development, Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has requested immediate deployment of additional security personnel to Ekiti Local Government Area to contain the escalating violence. His call followed Tuesday’s attack in which masked gunmen stormed the church, killing about five people, injuring several others, and abducting dozens.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the affected families and the CAC community. He reaffirmed the state’s support for security agencies working to restore order.
Governor AbdulRazaq also commended President Bola Tinubu for deploying 900 more troops to Kwara, noting that the reinforcements had already helped stabilise some previously affected areas. He expressed confidence that the additional personnel would strengthen security across the state.
