Bandits Demand ₦3bn Ransom for Abducted Kwara Worshippers

Anxious families in Kwara State are pleading for government intervention after bandits who abducted dozens of worshippers during a church service in Eruku community have reportedly demanded a staggering ₦3 billion ransom for their release

The gunmen had stormed the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state earlier in the week, opening fire and causing chaos as worshippers attempted to flee. Eyewitness accounts and videos shared online showed the attackers invading the church during an evening service before herding the victims into the surrounding forest Local sources said about 30–38 worshippers were abducted during the raid, with residents confirming that the kidnappers later established contact and demanded ₦100 million per victim — an amount totalling roughly ₦3 billion Several worshippers were reportedly killed during the attack, while others sustained injuries. Community leaders said the victims’ families are devastated and unable to meet the huge demand, prompting urgent calls for state and federal government action. Security agencies have since been deployed in the area, and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing. The Kwara State Government has also heightened security around churches, schools, and vulnerable communities following the incident, while some schools in the area were temporarily closed to prevent further attacks. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other religious bodies have condemned the assault, describing it as a renewed attack on peaceful worship. They urged security operatives to intensify efforts to rescue the victims unharmed and bring the perpetrators to justice The attack has deepened concerns about rising banditry across Nigeria’s North-Central region, with residents demanding more proactive intelligence, community policing, and federal support to prevent future tragedies.