Residents of Omugo community in Oro Ago district of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have sounded an alarm over the continued captivity of eight worshippers who were abducted, stating that the kidnappers are demanding a ₦150 million ransom for their freedom.
They appealed for swift intervention from the government and security agencies, voicing deep concern over the ordeal.
The revelation was made on Thursday during a press briefing by the community spokesperson, Olaitan Tajudeen Jimoh.
He lamented the deteriorating security situation in the community.
According to media reports, the victims were kidnapped on March 22, 2026, during a church service at the Evangelical Church Winning All in Omugo.
Residents disclosed that the assault was the third such incident recorded in the community within the last six months.
Jimoh said the most recent attack has heightened fear and displacement among residents, with many reportedly abandoning their homes.
“This is not merely a security breach; it is a brutal assault on our faith, our dignity, and our very right to exist. Many people had and continue to flee their home even as we speak ” he said.
He further noted that the victims, several of whom are elderly, are still being held in captivity under severe conditions, describing the development as a humanitarian emergency.
According to him, “initial contact with the abductors indicated a ransom demand of ₦1 billion, which was later reduced to ₦150 million”.
He explained that the demanded amount is far beyond what the affected families can afford.
The community also raised concerns about “persistent security gaps”, warning that failure to respond firmly could encourage the attackers and allow violence to spread to nearby communities.
Among the measures requested, the community called for an immediate, intelligence-based rescue operation involving both federal and state authorities alongside security agencies.
They also appealed for the deployment of officers to a police station reportedly constructed by the community but yet to begin operations, noting that the lack of security presence has exposed the area to attacks.
Additionally, the group called for the creation of a Joint Task Force base made up of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to guarantee quick response and consistent security coverage.
They also advocated the official inclusion of local vigilante groups and hunters within the security framework, stressing that their understanding of the terrain would be vital in confronting armed criminals.
While acknowledging earlier interventions by the state government in 2025, the community urged authorities to sustain their efforts, insisting that the present crisis requires immediate and continuous action.
In his remarks, Revd Sunday Omole, who presided over the service during the attack, said “several communities have remained deserted”.
The clergyman said residents have been living in fear and tension since the attack, adding that the “trauma of those in captivity for 18 days now has been deeply distressing for families and the entire community”.
