Bandits who kidnapped about 35 worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Igan, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, are reportedly demanding N100 million ransom per victim.
Family members and community leaders confirmed on Thursday that the abductors had reached out to relatives of the victims, using the phones seized from those taken during the Tuesday evening attack.
According to Punch, the Secretary of the CAC assembly, Josiah Agbabiaka said that some families had already received calls from the kidnappers.
“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 N100 million each,” Agbabiaka said.
The Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, also confirmed the situation, noting that four of his family members were among those abducted and that the calls were being made in an organised manner.
“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person. They said the victims were grouped and they are calling each group’s relatives.”
Olukotun said he was inside the church with five members of his family during the attack and escaped through a window while others were taken away.
Meanwhile, the Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, has called for swift government action to secure the release of the victims.
The monarch commended the prompt deployment of military personnel following the visit of the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on Wednesday, but said more urgent steps were needed.
“Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding.
“But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible,” the monarch said.