Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Fear and tension have seized the Eruku community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State following the abduction of a popular local mechanic, Idris, widely known as “Korope,” and another resident by suspected bandits. According to sources close to the community, the kidnappers have established contact with the families of the victims and are demanding a ransom of 16 million naira for their release. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, has deepened the sense of insecurity in a town already scarred by a series of violent attacks, including the infamous November 2025 church abduction that made national headlines and drew the personal intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
The victims were reportedly seized in the evening hours while going about their business on the outskirts of the town. Idris, whose nickname “Korope” is a term often associated with mini‑buses, is described by residents as a hardworking mechanic who runs a modest workshop serving the local community. The identity of the second victim has not yet been disclosed, but sources indicate that both men were taken at gunpoint and marched into the dense forest that surrounds Eruku, a terrain that has become a hideout for criminal gangs operating across the Kwara‑Kogi border. The kidnappers have since made contact, issuing the ransom demand and threatening harm to the captives if the money is not paid within a specified timeframe.
The Eruku community is no stranger to such terror. In November 2025, armed bandits attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in the town during an evening service, killing three worshippers and kidnapping 38 members, including the pastor. That mass abduction attracted international attention and prompted a multi‑agency rescue effort involving the military, police, and State Security Service. The victims were eventually freed, but the trauma lingered. In the months that followed, bandits continued to target farmers and travellers along the Eruku‑Koro and Egbe‑Eruku roads, repeatedly abducting commuters and demanding ransoms.
The latest kidnapping underscores the persistence of the threat despite repeated government assurances. In April 2026, police announced the arrest of 33 suspects linked to the Eruku church attack, a move hailed by the authorities as a major breakthrough. Those arrests, which included key logistics providers and informants, were expected to disrupt the network responsible for terrorising the area. Yet, barely a month later, a mechanic and another resident have been dragged into the forest, and the community is once again grappling with the helplessness that comes with living in a kidnapping hotspot. A victim of the November 2025 attack had earlier described how the terrorists “know every bush path” and operate from “fully‑dominated territory” straddling Kwara and neighbouring states.
Residents of Eruku have expressed outrage and frustration at the seeming inability of security forces to permanently neutralise the criminals. Some have accused the authorities of focusing on high‑profile arrests while leaving the community exposed to daily threats. Traders have reported a decline in commercial activity, as fear keeps customers away, while farmers have abandoned portions of their land, unable to harvest crops for fear of ambush. The closure of schools in parts of Kwara State following the November 2025 attack remains a painful memory for parents who had demanded stronger protection for their children. The current abduction has revived those fears, with many families now keeping their children indoors after sunset.
The Kwara State Police Command has not yet issued an official statement on the abduction of Idris “Korope” and the other victim. However, security sources indicate that patrols have been intensified along the Eruku‑Egbe axis, where the abductors are believed to have entered the bush. A coordinated search involving local vigilantes and hunters is also underway, though the dense vegetation and rugged terrain have hampered progress. The police have urged residents to remain calm and to provide any information that could assist in the rescue of the victims. A senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Stone Reporters News that the command was aware of the ransom demand and was employing intelligence‑led tactics to track the kidnappers.
For the families of the victims, the hours are passing with agonising slowness. Relatives of Idris “Korope” have gathered at his workshop, their faces etched with worry, while the other victim’s household has reportedly begun the painful process of selling off personal belongings to raise the ransom. The 16 million naira demand is a staggering sum for ordinary traders and artisans in a rural town, and many are skeptical that the community can raise it in time, even with contributions from well‑wishers. Some have called on the state government to intervene, noting that the 2025 church victims were freed only after the deployment of federal security assets and direct presidential engagement. “We are tired of burying our people and paying ransoms. The government must do something now,” a community elder said.
The abduction in Eruku is the latest in a string of kidnappings across Kwara State. In March 2026, bandits abducted 10 residents in Ifelodun Local Government Area, demanding a N10 million ransom. In the same month, two commuters were seized on the Egbe‑Eruku road and held for eight days before their families could raise the funds for their release. The pattern is consistent: criminals block isolated roads, drag victims into the bush, and negotiate ransoms that are often far beyond the means of rural families. The security forces, for their part, have struggled to dislodge the gangs due to the complexity of the forested terrain and the active collaboration of local informants who supply food, fuel, and intelligence to the kidnappers.
As the deadline for the payment of the 16 million naira approaches, the people of Eruku are once again holding their breath. For Idris “Korope,” a man known for fixing vehicles and helping neighbours, time may be running out. The government has promised to end insecurity, and the arrests of the 33 suspects were meant to signal a turning point. Yet, in the quiet streets of Ekiti Local Government Area, the sound of silence has returned, and it is the silence of fear.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments