Residents of Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Wednesday took to the streets in protest over the continued captivity of 16 worshippers abducted by gunmen, despite the payment of a N10.5 million ransom by the community.
The demonstrators, made up of traditional leaders, women, youths, family members and sympathisers of the victims, called on the Federal Government, the Ekiti State Government and security agencies to urgently intervene and secure the release of the abductees.
The victims were seized on April 28 when armed assailants stormed a Christ Apostolic Church during an evening worship session in Eda Oniyo. During the attack, the church's presiding pastor was reportedly shot dead before the worshippers were taken away.
Residents said the kidnappers initially demanded N1bn for the victims' freedom before reducing the amount to N150m and later N50m. However, after negotiations, the community reportedly raised N10.5m and handed it over to the abductors.
Despite the payment, the victims have remained in captivity for over a month.
During the protest, participants displayed placards bearing messages such as, "President Tinubu, rescue us," "Free our loved ones from kidnappers," and "No to kidnapping and banditry in Eda Oniyo."
The protesters also demanded stronger security measures in the area, including the establishment of a functional divisional police headquarters, deployment of forest guards and the creation of a military base around the Ekiti-Kwara border corridor.
Speaking during the protest, a resident, Ajayi Ayodele, said the abducted persons included mostly women and two young boys.
According to him, the community had exhausted its resources in a desperate effort to secure the release of the victims.
"Our people have spent 36 days in captivity. We came together and raised N10.5m, hoping it would secure their freedom, but the kidnappers have refused to release them and are now asking for more money," he said.
Another resident, Ayodele Oni, said the community had gone beyond paying cash by providing food items and other supplies demanded by the abductors.
He explained that residents supplied bags of rice, fuel, cigarettes and other provisions requested by the kidnappers, yet the hostages remained in captivity.
Oni disclosed that the abductors recently contacted the community again and insisted on receiving N50m.
He described the ransom delivery process as traumatic, saying those involved travelled through parts of Kwara and Kogi states and trekked long distances through forests before reaching the kidnappers.
"After collecting the money, they told us we would hear from them. Since then, they have continued to make fresh demands," he said.
He lamented the condition of the victims, noting that spending more than five weeks in the bush without proper shelter, healthcare or basic hygiene facilities would have subjected them to severe hardship and emotional distress.
Also speaking, Bose Ajayi appealed to government authorities and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.
She said the abductees included toddlers aged two and three as well as an elderly woman said to be over 80 years old.
Ajayi said many families had been thrown into anguish, with children repeatedly asking after their missing mothers.
"We are pleading with the government at all levels to come to our aid. The entire community is in pain, and families are going through emotional trauma," she said.
The protesters maintained that the community's vulnerability to repeated attacks was linked to inadequate security presence and called for immediate steps to strengthen security architecture in the area.
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