Jul 6, 2026

Ekiti Governor Visits Freed Kidnap Victims After Community Paid ₦25M Ransom

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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ADO-EKITI, Nigeria — In a scene that has sparked mixed emotions across Ekiti State and beyond, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State visited the freed victims of the Eda-Oniyo kidnapping saga, arriving with cameramen in tow and using the occasion to solicit support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential 2027 re-election bid. The visit comes days after the community raised and paid approximately ₦25.2 million in ransom to secure the release of surviving worshippers abducted from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) crusade in Eda-Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area, on April 28, 2026. One victim tragically died in captivity.

Heartbreak, Resilience, and Questions of Leadership

The abduction, which also claimed the life of the presiding pastor, involved mostly women and children. The victims endured over two months (around 57-67 days) in the hands of gunmen operating in the volatile border area between Ekiti and Kwara states.

Community leaders described raising the ransom through painful contributions, loans, and asset sales after initial government response fell short of expectations.

Freed victims were taken to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital for treatment, with the state government covering medical costs. Many appeared malnourished and traumatized upon release.

Governor Oyebanji’s visit, however, has drawn sharp criticism. Detractors accuse him of seeking photo opportunities and political capital at a moment of communal grief and self-reliance, especially as he reportedly urged residents to back Tinubu’s 2027 ambitions.

This incident underscores the persistent challenge of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria, particularly in rural and border communities.

Despite security operations, communities often bear the brunt when swift government intervention is lacking.

Ekiti, once relatively calm, has seen a rise in such incidents, mirroring national trends where banditry and abduction plague multiple states.

Police described the rescue as intelligence-led with military and local support, but community accounts emphasize the ransom payment as the decisive factor.

The tragedy has fueled public frustration over governance priorities, with many questioning why citizens must self-fund rescues while leaders focus on political messaging.

As the freed victims begin the long road to recovery, their story highlights both human resilience and systemic gaps in protecting vulnerable populations.

For Ekiti residents and Nigerians at large, it raises uncomfortable questions about security, empathy in leadership, and the true cost of governance failures.

The governor’s administration maintains focus on support for the victims, but the optics of the visit amid ransom narratives continue to dominate online discourse and local conversations.