Kidnappers seek N1 billion ransom after abducting 15 worshippers in Ekiti

Abductors of 15 worshippers in Ekiti State have demanded a N1 billion ransom for their release, following a deadly attack on a church in the state.

This was disclosed on Wednesday, April 29, by the Eleda of Eda-Oniyo, Oba Joseph Awolola, during a visit by a government delegation to the community, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

The victims were abducted on Tuesday during a night vigil at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) No. 2, Eda-Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area.

According to Awolola, the abductors, who carried out the attack and killed the visiting pastor, are demanding N1 billion for the release of the victims.

Alaba, in his remarks, revealed that a family of four, a mother and her three children, were among those abducted, adding that efforts were ongoing to secure the victims’ release.

The delegation was led by retired Brig.-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, Special Adviser on Security to Gov. Biodun Oyebanji, and included the State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, as well as the Ilejemeje Council Chairman, Pius Alaba.

In response to the attack, the Ekiti State government, through a statement signed by its Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, on April 30, described the incident as heinous and unacceptable.

The government said it had deployed a high-powered security delegation led by Brig.-Gen. Ogundana (rtd.) to coordinate operations in the affected community.

It added that full-scale surveillance operations had been activated to monitor the area, track down the perpetrators, and prevent further security breaches.

Nigeria continues to grapple with rising insecurity, with kidnapping for ransom increasingly becoming widespread across several regions.

Responding to the rising wave of insecurity, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said his “enemies want to use insecurity to get rid of him” as the country prepares for a general election next year.