Gunmen who kidnapped over 30 residents of Eruku community during a church service on Tuesday have placed a ransom demand of N100m on each victim.
According to family members who were allegedly contacted by the bandits via phone, this information was revealed on Thursday.
The bandits, during their violent attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday, killed three people, abducted over 30 worshippers, and looted their valuables in the church during the service.
According to Chief Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, four members of his family were among those kidnapped, as he confirmed the latest development on the ransom demand from the bandits.
He recounted that he was in the church with five relatives when the gunmen struck, but he managed to escape with one ward by jumping through a window at around 6:06 p.m.
Olukotun reported that the kidnappers had begun contacting various families.
“Based on the information gathered from the kidnappers’ camp, they have grouped the victims according to their relationships and are now making calls to our people through each of the groups.”
Some individuals within the community have reportedly received calls from the kidnappers, demanding N100m for each person; however, with regards to my family members, I have not received any communication concerning them, so I am still waiting,” he stated.
The community leader further emphasized the urgent requirement for bolstered security deployment in Eruku, a border town with Kogi State long vulnerable to criminal incursions. He urged the government to upgrade the local vigilante outfit with modern defensive equipment capable of matching the firepower of the attackers.
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