Residents of Omugo community in Oro Ago District, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have raised concern over the continued detention of eight worshippers abducted during a church service, revealing that their captors are demanding ₦150 million for their release.
The community appealed to government and security agencies for immediate intervention, citing growing fears over the victims’ safety.
The alarm was raised on Thursday during a press briefing addressed by the community’s spokesperson, Olaitan Tajudeen Jimoh, who lamented the deteriorating security situation in the area.
The victims were reportedly kidnapped on March 22, 2026, during a service at the Evangelical Church Winning All in Omugo. The incident marks the third attack recorded in the community within a six-month period.
Jimoh said the latest abduction has heightened fear among residents, forcing many to flee 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 noted that most of the abductees are elderly and remain in captivity under harsh conditions, describing the development 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 beyond what the affected families can afford.
The community also warned of “persistent security gaps”, cautioning that failure to act promptly could embolden attackers and extend violence to neighbouring communities.
Among their demands is an immediate, intelligence-driven rescue operation involving both federal and state authorities alongside security agencies.
They further 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 exposed the area to attacks.
In addition, the residents advocated for the establishment of a Joint Task Force base made up of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure swift response and sustained security coverage.
They also urged the formal inclusion of local vigilante groups and hunters in the security framework, citing their familiarity with the terrain as vital in combating armed groups.
While acknowledging previous efforts by the state government in 2025, the community insisted that the current situation demands urgent and sustained action.
Speaking separately, Revd Sunday Omole, who officiated during the incident, said “several communities have remained deserted”.
He added that residents have continued to live in fear 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”.
(DAILY TRUST)
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