OMUGO — The leadership of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, has made an urgent appeal for help following a staggering ₦1 billion ransom demand by bandits.
The demand follows a violent attack on the church during a Sunday service, where gunmen reportedly stormed the sanctuary, shooting sporadically to disperse the congregation before fleeing with eight worshippers.
The presiding pastor, who is now coordinating with the families of the victims, confirmed that the abductors reached out with the ten-figure demand, a sum the rural community describes as “impossible.”
“We are a small community of farmers and traders. Where do they expect us to find one billion naira?” a distraught relative of one of the victims asked. “We are calling on the State Government and the security agencies to intervene before it is too late.”
The Kwara State Police Command has since deployed tactical teams to the Ifelodun axis to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims. However, the remote terrain and the high-profile nature of the ransom demand have heightened fears among residents.
This latest incident adds to a growing wave of insecurity in the state’s outskirts, with religious institutions increasingly becoming targets for high-value kidnappings. While the Nigeria Police Force has assured the public of their commitment to a safe rescue, the families of the “Omugo Eight” remain in an agonizing wait.
