Bandit

The bandits that abducted some 38 worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State have placed N100 ransom on the head of each abductees.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that the kidnappers have started contacting the families of the victims who were abducted during a church service on Tuesday.

A community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun whose four relatives were among the kidnapped victims confirmed this to LEADERSHIP on Thursday.

Olukotun, who said he was in the church with five of his family members when the incident occurred, said he and one of his wards escaped the attack around 6:06 p.m through the church’s window.

He confirmed that the kidnappers have made contact with the people of the community and are demanding N100m as ransom on each of the 38 victims.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers camp, they (kidnappers) have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the group.

The leader of a notorious kidnapping gang in Kwara state, Maidawa has been killed in an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force, the state government has said.

It was gathered that Maidawa, whose gang specialises in terrorising Kwara and its neighbouring states was killed during an airstrike on the thick forests of Isanlu-Isin on Tuesday.

Ibraheem Abdullateef, the Senior Special Assistant on Communication to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made this disclosure in a statement on Thursday.

According to Abdullateef, the NAF airstrike followed a recent attack on the Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun LGA and the killing of 11 forest guards and other residents by some suspected kidnappers.

He also stated that the attack on the kidnappers’ enclave followed an intelligence gathering by security agencies which led to the interception of communication between the criminals.

Abdullateef noted that through the process, the location of the gang members was revealed, leading to the killing of Maidawa and some of his foot soldiers.

“Security forces, spurred by new calls of the state government for urgent interventions, have ratcheted up efforts to dislodge the kidnappers who often launch cowardly attacks on civilian populations and abduct people for ransom.

“Our security agencies, supported by the government, are determined to crush these criminals. Kwara will not be a haven for bandits,” Abdulateef said.

He noted that the state government have also identified some locations, including places that have recently experienced incidents of criminal activity, as flashpoints.

In addition, he assured that the state government, in collaboration with joint security operatives, will continue to conduct phases of onslaught against criminals operating in Kwara State.