Bandits insist on N150m ransom for abducted worshippers – Kwara community

Residents of Omugo community in Oro Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have raised alarm over the continued captivity of eight abducted worshippers, revealing that kidnappers are demanding a ₦150 million ransom for their release.

The community made the appeal during a press conference on Thursday, calling for urgent intervention from the government and security agencies.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, community spokesperson Olaitan Tajudeen Jimoh lamented the worsening security situation in the area.

The victims were abducted on March 22, 2026, during a church service at the Evangelical Church Winning All in Omugo. Residents noted that the incident marks the third attack on the community within six months.

Jimoh said the latest attack has intensified fear and displacement, with many residents reportedly fleeing their homes.

“This is not merely a security breach; it is a brutal assault on our faith, our dignity, and our very right to exist. Many people had and continue to flee their home even as we speak,” he said.

He added that the victims—many of whom are elderly—remain in captivity under harsh conditions, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis.

According to him, “initial contact with the abductors indicated a ransom demand of ₦1 billion, which was later reduced to ₦150 million”.

He stressed that the amount is far beyond what the affected families can afford.

The community also raised concerns over “persistent security gaps,” warning that inaction could embolden attackers and spread violence to neighbouring areas.

Among their demands is an immediate, intelligence-driven rescue operation involving federal and state authorities, as well as security agencies.

They also called for the deployment of personnel to a police station reportedly built by the community but yet to be operational, noting that the absence of security presence has left the area vulnerable.

Additionally, the residents advocated for the establishment of a Joint Task Force base comprising the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure rapid response and sustained security coverage.

They further urged the formal integration of local vigilante groups and hunters into the security framework, citing their knowledge of the terrain as vital in combating armed groups.

While acknowledging previous interventions by the state government in 2025, the community insisted that the current situation requires urgent and sustained action.

In his remarks, Reverend Sunday Omole, who officiated during the incident, said “several communities have remained deserted”.

He added that residents have been living in fear and anxiety since the attack, noting that the “trauma of those in captivity for 18 days now has been deeply distressing for families and the entire community”.