ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Residents of Eda-Oniyo community in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State have staged a protest over the continued captivity of 16 abducted residents, despite reportedly paying N10.5 million ransom to their kidnappers.
The victims were abducted during a violent attack on a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the community on April 28, 2026, during which the presiding revivalist, Pastor Aregbe, was killed and worshippers were taken away by armed gunmen.
According to community accounts, the abductors initially demanded N1 billion before reducing their demand to N150 million and later N50 million, even after receiving payments and supplies from residents.
Protesters, including community leaders, women, and relatives of the victims, displayed placards appealing to both state and federal authorities, including President Bola Tinubu, to intervene and secure the release of their loved ones.
One resident, Bose Ajayi, said the abductees include women, young children as young as two and three years old, and an elderly woman said to be over 80 years old, stressing that families remain in deep anguish.
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“We are begging the government to help secure their release. Women are crying, children are crying, and the entire community is in pain,” she said.
Another community member, Ayodele Ajayi, said the community had mobilised funds and raised N10.5 million to meet the kidnappers’ demand but the victims were not released as promised.
He added that communication with the abductors had continued intermittently, but no concrete breakthrough had been achieved.
“Our people have been in captivity for 36 days. We contributed what we could and paid N10.5 million, but they refused to release them and are now demanding more money,” he said.
Community representatives also described the ransom delivery process as traumatic, saying they travelled through difficult terrain across neighbouring states before reaching the kidnappers’ location in forested areas.
Another representative, Ayodele Oni, said residents felt abandoned despite their efforts, adding that the abductors continued to make fresh demands even after collecting money, food items, fuel, and other supplies.
He explained that victims have now spent 36 days in captivity under harsh conditions without adequate food, shelter, or medical care.
The community is now calling for the establishment of a stronger security presence, including a divisional police headquarters and a military base along the boundary between Eda-Oniyo and neighbouring states, to prevent further attacks.
Residents also urged both the federal and Ekiti State governments to urgently intervene, warning that continued delay could worsen the humanitarian situation and embolden armed groups operating in the region.