Kwara: Eruku CAC Church Holds First Service After Bandit Attack
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Presiding pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, Eruku in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara state, Bamidele Lawrence, has said that the 38 persons abducted last Tuesday would be rescued alive, according to God’s revelation to him.
In his sermon at the first service held since the deadly banditry attack that left three worshippers dead and 38 abducted, the clergy on Sunday described the incident as a test of faith.
He said that he received divine assurances regarding the safety of the kidnapped.
He told the congregation that God promised the abducted worshippers would return alive, likening their situation to the biblical trials of the Israelites.
The church also used the service to clarify the actual number of victims taken away, saying that the number of abducted was 38.
The service, conducted inside the church auditorium where the attack occurred last Tuesday, was dominated by prayers for the release of the kidnapped worshippers and the repose of the deceased.
It was during the service that the church secretary, Michael Agbabiaka, formally confirmed that 38 persons were abducted, contrary to earlier figures circulating on social media.
According to him, the church initially compiled 35 names, but a later verification exercise identified three additional non-members who were also kidnapped during the siege.
“Rumour that over 60 people were abducted is not true. We have 38 people in the bush. Three people died, and one is in the hospital receiving treatment. I have their names and phone numbers. we don’t want misinformation”.
Agbabiaka, who said that the bandits initially demanded N100 million ransom per victim, added that the ransom was negotiated down to N20 million each before communication with the abductors stopped last Friday.
He added that despite fear and trauma, church leaders encouraged members to attend the service as a show of faith and resilience.
“As you can see, only a few people are present, but we thank God for life and for strengthening us. We also appreciate the government for deploying security operatives who are now patrolling the town and the church”, he said.
One worshipper, James Ige, whose wife and son were among those kidnapped, appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, saying his family’s fate rests on the government’s ability to act swiftly.
This is just as heavy deployment of security operatives had been noticed across Eruku community, including soldiers, the Special Tactical Squad from Force Headquarters, SWAT, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kwara Police Command, and local vigilantes.
It is recalled that the deployment followed directives by President Bola Tinubu mandating joint operations to track the attackers and rescue the victims.
