Kwara: Insurgents spurn N10 million ransom proposal

Fear grips the residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, prompting many to flee their homes due to relentless attacks by armed bandits, with eight ECWA Church members still held captive, as confirmed by Pastor Toba Omole.

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The community attempted to secure the hostages' release by offering N1 million, but the bandits refused, instead demanding N1 billion, a stark contrast to the initial offer, highlighting the bandits' firm stance.

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Pastor Omole recently gained access to the abducted church members on a Tuesday last week, providing a glimmer of hope, but the bandits' rejection of the N1 million offer has raised concerns about the captives' fate.

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Pastor Omole stated that the terrorists insist on receiving the full N1 billion before freeing the worshippers, underscoring the significant ransom demand made by the bandits.

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The Omugo Community, once thriving, is now largely deserted, with only a few domestic animals remaining, as the recent attacks have taken a toll on the community's livelihood, according to sources.

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While three of the eight abducted members managed to escape, the others, including Pastor Omole's wife, remain in the bandits' custody, a situation that has sparked widespread concern.

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In a separate incident, armed bandits attacked the Oro-Ago Community, killing a vigilante, Baba Ibeji, and injuring his younger brother, Ajere, in a brazen attack that has raised security concerns.

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The attackers also targeted a Point of Sale (PoS) shop opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) divisional office, firing shots at the facility, although no casualties were reported at the NSCDC office.

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Earlier ambushes in the area resulted in the killing of two local hunters who were escorting a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district, highlighting the security challenges in the region.

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On Saturday, security agencies issued alerts about a potential new attack, but fortunately, no incident occurred, providing a temporary reprieve for the affected communities.

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Efforts to obtain official statements from security authorities regarding the latest developments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report, leaving many questions unanswered.