Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Eda‑Oniyo community in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State poured onto the streets on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, to demand the urgent rescue of 16 relatives who were abducted from a Christ Apostolic Church service on 28 April 2026 and have now remained in captivity for more than five weeks – despite the community raising and delivering a ransom of ₦10.5 million and supplying food, fuel and cigarettes as demanded by the kidnappers. The protest, led by community leaders, women and youths, also called on the federal and state governments to establish a permanent security post in Eda‑Oniyo and a military base along the Ekiti‑Kwara boundary, which has become a major corridor for bandits.
The victims were seized during a night vigil when armed men suspected to be bandits invaded the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eda‑Oniyo, killing the presiding pastor and taking 16 worshippers into the surrounding forest. Among the captives are children as young as two and three years old, as well as an elderly woman over 80. According to residents, the kidnappers initially demanded an astronomical ₦1 billion, later reduced to ₦150 million, and eventually to ₦50 million. However, despite the community’s frantic efforts to meet the demands, the abductors have not released a single victim.
Speaking during the protest, a community leader, Ayodele Ajayi, described the anguish of families who have exhausted all their resources. “Our people have been in captivity for 36 days. We contributed what we could as a community and paid ₦10.5 million, but the kidnappers refused to release them. Instead, they are demanding more money. There are 16 victims in total. Most of them are women, while two are young boys. We are pleading with governments at all levels to come to our aid and rescue our people,” Ajayi said.
Another resident, who identified herself only as Mrs. Ajayi, broke down as she recounted the ages of the captives. “We have children as young as two and three years old and an elderly woman who is over 80 years old among those kidnapped. Families are suffering, and children keep asking for their mothers. We are begging the federal, state, and local governments to help secure their release. Women are crying, children are crying, and the entire community is in pain,” she said.
The desperation of the community is deepened by the traumatic experience of delivering the first payment. A community representative, Ayodele Oni, told the protesters that emissaries travelled through parts of Kwara and Kogi states and trekked deep into the forest before handing over the ₦10.5 million, two bags of rice, and other items requested by the kidnappers, including fuel and cigarettes. “We raised ₦10.5 million, supplied two bags of rice and several other items they requested, including fuel and cigarettes. Yet our people are still being held,” Oni said. He described the delivery process as one of the most harrowing experiences of his life, and the silence from the kidnappers since the payment has left the families in a state of despair.
The protesters also demanded that the authorities intensify rescue operations, noting that the security presence in the area is woefully inadequate. Eda‑Oniyo sits near the border between Ekiti and Kwara states, a stretch of rural roads and forests that has become a hotbed for kidnapping. In the past year alone, several communities in the border area have been raided, and the Ekiti State Government has been forced to close schools and impose curfews in certain local government areas.
The abduction of the 16 worshippers is not the first mass kidnapping in the area, but its longevity and the community’s compliance with the ransom demands have made it a test case for the government’s response. So far, there has been no official rescue operation, and the Ekiti State Police Command has not issued a statement on the current status of the victims. The protesters, however, have made it clear that they will not relent until their loved ones are brought home.
“We have children as young as two and three years old and an elderly woman who is over 80 years old among those kidnapped. Families are suffering, and children keep asking for their mothers,” Mrs. Ajayi added. The community also expressed frustration that while they have met the demands of the kidnappers, the government has not shown urgency in rescuing the victims. “We have raised money, we have delivered food, we have done everything they asked. Now we are appealing to the government to do its part,” Ayodele Ajayi said.
The protesters carried placards that read “Rescue our people now”, “Security should be our right, not a privilege”, and “Eda‑Oniyo bleeds, government must act”. The peaceful demonstration lasted several hours, with participants singing hymns and praying for the safe return of the captives. A delegation of community leaders later submitted a letter of grievances to the local government chairman, demanding an immediate security assessment and the deployment of additional personnel to the area.
As of Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the 16 kidnapped worshippers remain in captivity, and no official rescue operation has been announced. The community has vowed to continue their protest until the government takes decisive action. For the families, the nightmare is far from over – and with each passing day, the hope of seeing their children and elderly mothers again grows dimmer.
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