ERUKU, Nigeria — Bandits who abducted worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church in the Eruku community of Kwara State have reportedly demanded ₦100 million in ransom for each victim, deepening fears in a town already reeling from Tuesday, November 18, 2025’s deadly attack.
More than 35 worshippers were taken when armed men stormed the church during an evening service in Ekiti Local Government Area.
The assault — partly captured on a live-streamed video — sent the congregation fleeing as gunshots echoed through the building.
Several worshippers were killed, while others were herded into the surrounding forest.
According to Punch, multiple family sources and community leaders confirmed on Thursday, November 20, 2025, that the abductors have begun contacting relatives, using mobile phones seized from the victims.
Josiah Agbabiaka, secretary of the CAC assembly, said families had started receiving ransom calls.
“It is true that the bandits have started contacting family members using the victims’ phones to demand ransom,” Agbabiaka was quoted as saying.
“From what we were told, they grouped the victims. The first group of 11 people has been asked to pay N100 million each.”
Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku, whose four family members were among those taken, said the kidnappers were calling relatives in batches.
“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100 million for each person,” he said.
“They said the victims were grouped and they are calling each group’s relatives.”
Olukotun, who was in the church with five family members when the bandits attacked, said he managed to escape through a window while the rest were seized.
The attack triggered widespread shock and fear in Eruku, a community that leaders say has endured growing insecurity in recent weeks.
Local authorities have lamented that repeated distress calls to security agencies have brought little relief until now.
Oba Busari Olarewaju, the traditional ruler of Eruku, appealed for urgent government intervention to secure the release of the captives.
He commended the swift deployment of military personnel following a visit by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, but said more decisive action was needed.
“Last night, soldiers entered our community minutes after the governor visited. Their presence gave us some assurance that the government is responding,” the monarch said.
“But we are still appealing that efforts should be intensified to rescue our people as quickly as possible.”
The abduction, which comes just days after bandits kidnapped 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, has heightened national concern over the intensifying wave of mass kidnappings across northern Nigeria.
The Kwara State Police Command has yet to confirm the number of victims or provide an update on the rescue efforts.
