Five abductees in Kwara community feared dead in bandits captivity
Five Kidnapped Worshippers Reportedly Dead in Captivity Following ECWA Church Attack
At least five worshippers kidnapped during a violent assault on the ECWA Church in Omugo, within the Oro Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, are believed to have died while in the custody of their captors.
Zubair Olaitan, coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Security, confirmed the reports to DAILY POST on Wednesday. The information emerged from communications originating from the kidnappers’ camp, including insights shared by an individual who managed to escape from the armed group.
Among those reportedly deceased is Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, the wife of the church pastor, along with four other abductees. One source indicated, “Five of the Omugo abductees have died in captivity,” but details regarding the circumstances of these deaths remain unclear.
The source further noted that there was no specific information on how or where the deaths occurred, referencing the testimony of the escaped victim.
Families of the deceased have been informed, and the news has reportedly led to mourning among relatives.
The victims were among worshippers abducted on March 22, 2026, when heavily armed assailants stormed the church during service, opening fire and instilling panic among congregation members. The gunmen fled with approximately eight worshippers, taking them into nearby forests.
Following the kidnapping, the captors made contact with families through a relative of one of the victims, demanding a ransom of ₦1 billion for their release. Reports suggest that this amount was later reduced during negotiations.
Attempts by relatives to secure their release—through the delivery of around ₦20 million, along with food and beverages requested by the kidnappers—were ultimately unsuccessful, as the captives were not freed.
Security agencies have indicated that joint efforts are underway to locate the kidnapped individuals and apprehend those responsible for the attack. At the time of this report, official confirmation of the deaths from authorities had not been obtained.
