Kwara church attackers demand ₦100m ransom - Here’s what the new ransom calls show
Bandits demand ₦100m ransom after deadly Kwara church attack
Bandits who stormed Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun in Eruku, Kwara State in northcentral Nigeria, are now calling families and demanding ₦100m per victim, pushing an already shaken community into deeper panic.
Community sources told TellPad that the kidnappers are using the victims’ own phones to negotiate. A church official, Josiah Agbabiaka, confirmed that several families have been contacted.
The ransom calls come barely 24 hours after armed men attacked the church during a Tuesday evening programme, killing worshippers and dragging the pastor and several congregants into the bush.
It is the latest attack in Kwara’s border belt, an axis that has suffered repeated raids across Eruku, Egbe, Osi, Obbo, and Aiyegunle.
How the Attack Unfolded
Witnesses said the gunmen emerged from the surrounding bush and opened fire from outside the church to force worshippers into panic. Nearly 100 spent shells were found at the scene.
Three worshippers were fatally hit before the attackers burst into the building and seized the pastor along with several congregants.
Local vigilantes attempted to resist the attackers but retreated after running out of ammunition, allowing the gang to escape into the bush.
Police Confirm Deaths and Ongoing Manhunt
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed two deaths in its official record.
Spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said officers and vigilantes responded swiftly to the gunshots, forcing the attackers to flee.
One victim, Mr Aderemi, died inside the church. Another, Mr Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found dead in the bush.
A vigilante member, Segun Alaja, is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at ECWA Hospital.
Police Commissioner Adekimi Ojo said a coordinated search operation is underway, insisting security agencies “will not relent until these hoodlums are decimated.”
Presidency Reacts, Tinubu Halts Foreign Trip
President Bola Tinubu suspended a scheduled trip to South Africa and Angola after receiving security briefings on the Kwara attack and the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the president ordered fresh deployments to Eruku and neighbouring towns while awaiting reports from the police, DSS, and the vice president, who visited Kebbi on his behalf.
Tinubu described the ongoing killings, including recent attacks on soldiers in Borno State, in the northeast, as deeply troubling.
Nationwide Outrage as Livestream Clips Circulate
- Public figures reacted strongly after clips of worshippers fleeing during the attack circulated online.
- Dunsin Oyekan, gospel singer: said the insecurity is now “too much” for citizens to bear.
- Funke Akindele, actor: said she was heartbroken after seeing an elderly woman struggle to escape gunfire.
- AY, comedian: warned that the country is “turning into a crime scene.”
- Mr Macaroni, activist: accused the government of “insensitivity” as Nigerians face “yet another terrorist attack.”
- Taiwo Awoniyi, Super Eagles forward: urged calm, calling Kwara one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states.
International Spotlight
The attack has gained attention internationally as U.S. President Donald Trump and conservative allies continue to frame violence in Nigeria as evidence of a “Christian genocide.”
Conflict researchers argue the narrative oversimplifies Nigeria’s complex security crisis, but the Eruku attack is already being cited in the ongoing debate.
A Town on Edge
Eruku remains tense. Families are bracing for more ransom calls.
Security agencies say a coordinated operation is ongoing, but residents want answers and action after yet another deadly strike on a place of worship.
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