…as church officially confirms 38 worshippers were abducted.
Eruku, Nigeria — The iNews Times, the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke Isegun in Eruku, Kwara State, held a somber service on Sunday inside its still–blood-splattered auditorium, praying fervently for the safe return of kidnapped members and mourning those killed in last Tuesday’s brutal bandit attack.
The church has now officially confirmed that 38 worshippers were abducted, dismissing earlier claims circulating online that more than 60 members were taken.
Church secretary Michael Agbabiaka said although an initial list captured 35 abductees, further verification revealed that three non-members were also kidnapped, bringing the total to 38.
“The rumour that over 60 people were kidnapped is not true. I have a list with their phone numbers. We don’t want misinformation. We have 38 people inside the bush. Three died, and one victim is in the hospital receiving treatment,”
he said.
Agbabiaka revealed that the kidnappers, who first demanded ₦100 million per victim, later reduced the ransom to ₦20 million each before abruptly cutting off communication on Friday.
Despite widespread panic across the town, the church leadership urged members to attend Sunday service to strengthen one another’s faith.
“You can see that only a few people came because it hasn’t been easy. But God gave us courage. We also thank the government for deploying security,”
Agbabiaka added.
During the service, presiding pastor Bamidele Lawrence described the attack as a severe test of faith, citing 2 Peter 3:10 and assuring members that God had revealed promises concerning the abducted worshippers.
“The first promise God gave me is that all our kidnapped members will gain freedom very soon. They will not die in captivity,”
he said, adding that their eventual rescue would “be a miracle to the world.”
He further urged the congregation not to fear, insisting that Nigeria’s deepening insecurity would attract divine intervention and that current events align with biblical end-time prophecies.
One affected worshipper, James Ige, whose wife and son are among the hostages, appealed to the authorities:
“I beg the government and security agencies to do everything within their capacity to bring my family back safely.”
The iNews Times observed a heavy deployment of security personnel across Eruku on Sunday, including soldiers, the Special Tactical Squad from Force Headquarters, SWAT, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kwara State Police Command, and local vigilante groups.
The swift mobilisation follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a joint operation to track down the attackers and rescue the victims.
Kwara State has recorded a worrying surge in bandit incursions, especially in border communities in Ekiti and Kaima LGAs. The Eruku church attack adds to the growing list of kidnappings affecting residents, travellers, and now worshippers, deepening fears about expanding criminal networks across Kwara, Kogi, and Niger States.
