Residents of Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State staged a protest on Wednesday over the continued captivity of 16 worshippers abducted by gunmen, despite the community raising and paying ₦10.5 million ransom for their release.
The protesters included community leaders, women, youths, and relatives of the victims. They called on the Federal Government, Ekiti State Government, and security agencies to urgently intervene and secure the release of the abductees.
The victims were kidnapped on April 28 during an evening service at a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo. During the attack, gunmen killed the presiding pastor and abducted worshippers, initially demanding ₦1 billion ransom before reducing it to ₦150 million and later ₦50 million.
According to residents, the community eventually raised ₦10.5 million and also provided additional items requested by the kidnappers, including food supplies. However, despite meeting the demands, the victims have remained in captivity for 36 days.
Carrying placards with messages appealing to President Bola Tinubu and government authorities, the protesters expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of decisive action. They also called for stronger security presence in the area, including a functional police division, deployment of forest guards, and a military base along the Ekiti-Kwara border.
Residents said the abductees include mostly women, children as young as two and three years old, and an elderly woman over 80. They lamented that families remain in distress, with kidnappers still making fresh demands reportedly increasing to ₦50 million, while the community continues to plead for urgent rescue efforts.
Elijah Adeyemi
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