Meanwhile, 15 kidnap victims have regained their freedom after spending 60 days in captivity in Ekiti State.
The victims were rescued on Saturday, July 4, 2026, after they were abducted on April 28, 2026, when armed men attacked a night vigil at the Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo, a border community between Ekiti and Kwara states.
The abductors, upon storming the church, shot the pastor dead before abducting 16 worshippers, including women and children, into a nearby forest.
In an interview, a community leader, Ayodele Oni, described the victims’ release as a huge relief after weeks of anxiety. He said their release ended 65 days of mental and psychological torture for the community and the victims’ families. “Their condition is bad, but we thank God for their release,” he said.
The rescued victims are currently receiving treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital. However, one of the victims, a woman, reportedly died while in the kidnappers’ custody.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the police, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, and the Ekiti State Government.
