Residents of Eda-Oniyo community in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Wednesday took to the streets in protest, demanding the release of 16 residents who remain in captivity despite the payment of a ₦10.5 million ransom.
The protesters, comprising community leaders, relatives of the victims, women and youths, expressed frustration over the continued detention of the abductees, who have now spent 36 days in the custody of their kidnappers.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the demonstrators appealed to the Federal Government and the Ekiti State Government to intervene and secure the victims’ freedom.
Some of the placards read: “We are peace-loving indigenes. FG and Ekiti State Government, save our loved ones from kidnappers,” “President Tinubu, save us, we are perishing,” and “We are helpless, rescue our loved ones from captivity.”
Others called for improved security in the area, including the establishment of a functional police division, deployment of forest guards and the creation of a military base in the border community.
The victims were abducted on April 28, 2026, when armed men invaded a Christ Apostolic Church during a service in the community.
The attackers killed the presiding revivalist, identified simply as Pastor Aregbe, and whisked away 16 worshippers.
According to residents, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦1 billion before reducing the ransom to ₦150 million. They later lowered the demand to ₦50 million.
Speaking during the protest, a resident, Bose Ajayi, described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that women, young children and an elderly woman were among those still being held.
“Our people have been in captivity for 36 days. Among them are children aged two and three, as well as an elderly woman who is over 80 years old. Families are suffering, and children keep asking for their mothers,” she said.
Ajayi appealed to the Federal Government, the Ekiti State Government and local authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Another resident, Ayodele Ajayi, said the community had exhausted its resources in a bid to free the captives.
“We contributed what we could and paid ₦10.5 million to the kidnappers, but they refused to release our people. Instead, they are demanding more money,” he said.
“There are 16 victims in total, mostly women, while two are young boys. We are pleading with government at all levels to rescue them.”
Also speaking, community representative Ayodele Oni said residents felt abandoned despite weeks of appeals and sacrifices.
According to him, the community not only raised ₦10.5 million but also supplied food items and other materials requested by the kidnappers.
“We provided two bags of rice and several other items. They even demanded fuel, cigarettes and other provisions. We met all their demands, yet our people remain in captivity,” he said.
Oni described the ransom delivery process as traumatic, revealing that community representatives travelled through parts of Kwara and Kogi states and trekked long distances through forests before handing over the money.
“After collecting the ransom, they simply told us we would hear from them. Since then, they have continued making fresh demands,” he said.
He added that the victims were enduring harsh conditions in the bush without adequate shelter, medical care or basic necessities.
The community also renewed its call for stronger security presence in the area, insisting that the absence of adequate security infrastructure has left residents vulnerable to repeated attacks by criminal groups operating around the Ekiti-Kwara border.
