The peaceful evening service at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Igan in the Eruku community of Kwara State, turned into a nightmare on 18 November 2025, when armed bandits stormed the church, killed several worshippers, and abducted dozens. Family and community sources say the attackers subsequently demanded a staggering ₦100 million ransom per person, bringing the total ransom demand to more than ₦3 billion.
The Attack and the Kidnap
According to reports, the bandits struck mid-service, opening fire and triggering chaos as congregants scrambled for safety. In the ensuing mayhem, three to five worshippers were killed, and 30–38 others were reportedly taken away.
Community leaders say the abductors later made contact with victims’ families using the mobile phones of those kidnapped a chilling tactic that confirms the victims are likely alive, but under strict control.
Elder Josiah Agbabiaka, secretary of the church assembly, told media that victims were grouped and the first batch of 11 people was billed ₦100 million each.
Chief Olusegun Olukotun, the Olori Eta of Eruku and a key community leader (four of his family members are among those abducted), confirmed that multiple calls have come in demanding payment. He also described his own narrow escape from the raid jumping through a church window as bandits struck.
Meanwhile, Oba Busari Olarewaju, the traditional ruler (Owa) of Eruku, has publicly appealed to the state and federal governments for a swift and effective rescue operation. He noted that military personnel had deployed to the community shortly after the attack and called for intensified efforts.
Ransom Demand: ₦3 Billion plus at Stake
The ransom demand ₦100 million per abductee has raised alarm across Kwara as reports indicate the kidnappers calculated a total demand of at least ₦3 billion.
Some sources, including The Will News, place the figure even higher, estimating ₦3.8 billion, as the bandits reportedly claim to be holding 38 hostages.
The Radio Nigeria office in Lagos also confirmed the reported demand, quoting local community leaders who spoke with abducted families.
Security Response and Government Reaction
In the wake of the attack, security agencies have mobilized tactical teams, including the police and military, to conduct rescue operations in Eruku and the surrounding forested areas.
However, some frustration has emerged locally: Olukotun, the traditional leader, said while the soldiers’ presence gives some hope, his community fears the response may not be enough.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command issued a caution: the force said it had no official confirmation of ransom demands, contrary to community reports. Spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi stated that operations were ongoing to secure both life and property in the state.
Community Anguish and Pressure on Authorities
The kidnapping has provoked anger and pain across Eruku and the wider Kwara community. Families of the abducted are distraught, fearing for the safety of their loved ones while grappling with the staggering financial demand.
Oba Olarewaju’s call for a stronger security presence reflects a growing fear: local vigilantes, churches, and civil society are increasingly questioning whether government protection is adequate.
In addition, Christian advocacy groups, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have called for deeper investigations and more robust preventive measures. Some leaders say this mass kidnapping may be part of a broader pattern of targeting religious communities.
Context: Kidnapping and Insecurity Trend in Kwara
This is not the first time Kwara has witnessed high-profile kidnappings. The state, like many in central and northern Nigeria, has been under threat from banditry, often linked to criminal gangs and politically unstable herdsmen.
But the scale of this church abduction and the extraordinarily high ransom demand has shocked even seasoned security observers. Analysts warn that if such kidnappings continue unchecked, communities may become increasingly vulnerable, eroding trust in state protection.
Human Cost and Potential Outcomes
At least three worshippers were confirmed killed during the assault, but some community leaders suggest the death toll may be higher.
Beyond the immediate physical danger, there are serious psychological consequences. Families of abducted victims, already traumatized, must now navigate the emotional burden of negotiation, the fear of non-payment, or possible violence if demands aren’t met.
Some security experts argue that paying ransom can be a double-edged sword: while it may secure release in the short term, it also empowers and funds further criminal activity. Meanwhile, refusing to pay risks the safety of hostages.
Calls for Strategic Action
Community leaders, traditional rulers, and residents of Eruku are demanding more than a reactive security response. Key proposals include:
- Intensified Rescue Operations: Strengthen collaboration between military, police, and intelligence agencies to locate and free the abducted.
- Kidnapping Prevention Task Force: Deploy long-term, sustained security units dedicated to protecting vulnerable rural areas, especially border communities.
- Ransom Negotiation Protocols: Government-led frameworks to manage ransom demands without incentivizing repeat crimes.
- Community-Based Early Warning: Establish systems in which local vigilantes, churches, and traditional leaders alert authorities quickly when threats emerge.
- Socioeconomic Programs: Address root causes poverty, land disputes, governance gaps that make banditry profitable and alluring for criminals.
A Broader Security Challenge
This kidnapping in Kwara illustrates the broader crisis Nigeria faces: armed groups are evolving in both ambition and brutality. What began as sporadic bandit raids has now escalated into organized mass abductions, often carried out with strategic planning.
For the Kwara government and Nigeria at large, the stakes are now higher: failure to stem such kidnappings could further erode public trust and foment cycles of violence. Conversely, a strong, coordinated response could restore some confidence, deter future attacks, and reassure communities that they are not forgotten at the fringes of governance.
The abduction of worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State and the subsequent demand of ₦100 million per person, totaling over ₦3 billion represents a crisis with both local and national gravity.
As families reel from loss and fear, and security agencies mobilize to rescue victims, the episode underscores a chilling reality: religious vulnerability, criminal impunity, and weak protection mechanisms remain deeply intertwined in Nigeria’s insecurity. Whether the government, working in tandem with communities, can deliver a successful rescue and curb future attacks may well be a defining test of its capacity to protect its citizens in these turbulent times.
