Bandits who attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have reduced their ransom demand as security operatives intensify a coordinated search for their hideouts, Daily Trust has gathered.

The attackers, who killed two worshippers and abducted 38 others during a thanksgiving service, initially demanded N100 million per victim but later lowered the figure to N20 million.

Chairman of Ekiti Local Government, Hon. Awelewa Olawale, said the kidnappers had begun collecting the phone numbers of victims to contact their families.

?They are collecting numbers from those kidnapped to reach their relatives. Yesterday, they said they would call by 4 p.m., but they didn?t, and we have not heard from them today,? he said.

Olawale added that although the abductors demanded N20 million per victim, the church insisted on negotiating collectively and offered N1 million per person. He noted that vigilantes, reinforced with additional personnel, were still combing the forest. ?We are certain the bandits are still within the state,? he said.

He also dismissed knowledge of a purported list of victims circulating online, but confirmed that the community had remained calm.

?The church attacked is on the outskirts, which contributed to the vulnerability,? he added.

Speaking with Daily Trust, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed that the ransom demand had been reduced to N20 million per captive, though the exact number of those abducted remained uncertain due to conflicting reports.

?The police, army, vigilantes and other teams are still in the bush. We expect significant progress within three days,? he said.

Residents of Eruku released a list of about 35 abducted persons, stating that the youngest is seven years old and the oldest 64, with 30 of the victims being women.

The list Includes Felicia Ige (64), Timileyin Joshua (22), Elizabeth Rotimi (27), Samuel Ayodele (34), Olutokun Yetunde (23), Olutokun Janet (36), Olutokun Juwon (10), Olutokun Jumbu (12), Ebenezer Aina (24), and Titilayo Balogun (59)

Others are Opeyemi Asaba (24), Grace Balogun (62), Ayodele Taye (42), Oloke Funmilayo (42), Joseph Olaitan (24), Eniola Princess (23), Comfort Atolani (44), Joanah Atolani (7), Imole Aina (9), Moses Ojasope (12), Iyabo Ajayi (40), Adeojo Ojasope (19), Ojo Ajayi (10), Funmilayo Joshua (64) and Iyabo Michael (32).

Also listed are Bimpe Ige (20), Grace Iyabo Ige (41), Deborah Peter (38), Omolola Mustapha (40), Idowu Mustapha (17), Emmanuel Bamidele (22), Ade Ajayi (7), Foluso Caleb (42), Funmilayo Ayodele (37), Folorunso Bamidele (42), Akinola Toluwani (24) and Akinola Babalola (14).

During a sympathy visit on Wednesday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq told the traditional ruler of Eruku that the attack reflects wider insecurity along the Kwara?Kogi border. He disclosed that the Nigerian Army had deployed 900 troops to the area and assured residents that both state and federal authorities were working to secure the safe release of the victims.

On Friday, the governor chaired a security council meeting with commanders and top officials to review ongoing operations.

Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi told reporters that the meeting assessed intelligence from field operatives and commended heightened deployments, including air interdictions that have dislodged kidnappers from known hideouts in Ifelodun.

?It recommended sustained air bombardments of identified criminal enclaves,? he said.

He added that, In line with President Bola Tinubu?s directive, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had deployed four tactical teams to Kwara.

Security agencies, he said, had also arrested several individuals accused of supplying food and fuel to the criminals, as well as a man from Makurdi who allegedly repaired weapons for the kidnappers. (Weekend Trust)

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