Kwara attack: Church releases names of 38 abducted worshippers

Residents of Eruku community in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have released the names and ages of the persons abducted in last Tuesday’s attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, Eruku. They said the youngest victim is seven years old, while the oldest is 64.

They also noted that 30 of the 38 abducted persons are women.

Kwara church publishes names of 38 abducted members

It will be recalled that about 10 bandits attacked the church at around 6:00 p.m., killing two people and abducting 38 others while members were holding a thanksgiving service to celebrate the rescue of 18 community members earlier taken by the hoodlums.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed that two bodies were recovered after the incident. She added that operatives and vigilantes responded to gunshots from the outskirts of the town and forced the attackers to abandon part of their plan.

Residents said the exact number of abducted persons was initially unclear because many worshippers fled into nearby farmlands during the shooting.

The list now circulating in the community includes: Felicia Ige (64), Timileyin Joshua (22), Elizabeth Rotimi (27), Samuel Ayodele (34), Olutokun Yetunde (23), Olutokun Janet (36), Olutokun Juwon (10), Olutokun Jumbu (12), Ebenezer Aina (24), Titilayo Balogun (59), Opeyemi Asaba (24), Grace Balogun (62), Ayodele Taye (42), Oloke Funmilayo (42), Joseph Olaitan (24), Eniola Princess (23), Comfort Atolani (44), Joanah Atolani (7), Imole Aina (9), Moses Ojasope (12), Iyabo Ajayi (40), Adeojo Ojasope (19), Ojo Ajayi (10), Funmilayo Joshua (64), Iyabo Michael (32), Bimpe Ige (20), Grace Iyabo Ige (41), Deborah Peter (38), Omolola Mustapha (40), Idowu Mustapha (17), Emmanuel Bamidele (22), Ade Ajayi (7), Foluso Caleb (42), Funmilayo Ayodele (37), Folorunso Bamidele (42), Akinola Toluwani (24), and Akinola Babalola (14).

During his sympathy visit to the community on Wednesday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq told the traditional ruler of Eruku land that the attack reflects broader insecurity along the Kwara–Kogi border area.

He also said that the Nigerian Army had taken control of the community following the incident, with 900 troops deployed.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who visited Eruku with senior security officials, assured residents that both state and federal authorities were working together to secure the safe release of those abducted.

He later met with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ilorin, where he pledged that the government would “leave no stone unturned” in restoring calm.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE