Gunmen who abducted eight worshippers in Omugo community, Oro-Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, have reduced their ransom demand from N1bn to N150m, raising fresh concerns over the victims’ continued captivity.
The development was disclosed on Thursday by a community spokesperson, Jimoh Olaitan, while speaking with journalists in Ilorin.
The victims were kidnapped on March 22 during a church service at the Evangelical Church of West Africa, an incident that has since plunged the community into fear and displacement.
Olaitan said the abductors initially demanded N1bn but later reviewed the amount downward to N150m, insisting on payment of the revised sum.
According to him, the demand remains far beyond the reach of the victims’ families and the community.
He noted that the prolonged captivity has heightened anxiety among relatives, many of whom are struggling to cope with the situation.
Olaitan lamented that the security situation in Omugo has worsened significantly since the attack, forcing residents to flee their homes.
He said the community has largely been deserted, with many houses abandoned as residents relocate to safer areas.
According to him, only local vigilantes and hunters remain behind, guarding properties left unattended.
He also expressed concern over the absence of security personnel at the community’s police post, describing it as a major security lapse.
Olaitan appealed to the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government, and security agencies to urgently intervene to secure the release of the abducted worshippers.
He called for a coordinated rescue operation involving all levels of government, warning that delays could endanger the lives of the victims.
He further urged authorities to deploy security personnel to the area, reactivate the existing police post, and establish a permanent Joint Task Force presence to restore confidence.
Olaitan added that integrating local vigilantes and hunters into formal security operations would enhance efforts to protect the community and prevent further attacks.
