ABIODUN NEJOexamines the 67-day captivity of the Ekiti worshippers abducted during a church programme, the community’s struggle to secure their release, and the emotional homecoming that followedFor 67 agonising days, the people of Eda Oniyo in Ekiti State lived between hope and despair, praying for the safe return of 16 worshippers abducted during a church programme.As the days stretched into weeks, families, community leaders and volunteers battled not only fear and uncertainty but also the enormous task of raising millions of naira to secure their loved ones’ freedom.So, when news broke in the early hours of Saturday, July 4, 2026, that the worshippers abducted from Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State on April 28 had regained their freedom, many residents dismissed it as yet another rumour.Their disbelief stemmed from the prolonged silence surrounding efforts to secure the release of the 16 worshippers, including women and children, who were abducted during an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in the community.That fateful evening in April, armed hoodlums invaded the church during a programme, shot the pastor dead and abducted 16 worshippers. The victims were initially marched into a nearby bush before being moved to a forest in neighbouring Kwara State, where the kidnappers demanded N1bn ransom from the community.Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. For 67 agonising days, the people of Eda Oniyo in Ekiti State lived between hope and despair, praying for the safe return of 16 worshippers abducted during a church programme.As the days stretched into weeks, families, community leaders and volunteers battled not only fear and uncertainty but also the enormous task of raising millions of naira to secure their loved ones’ freedom.So, when news broke in the early hours of Saturday, July 4, 2026, that the worshippers abducted from Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State on April 28 had regained their freedom, many residents dismissed it as yet another rumour.Their disbelief stemmed from the prolonged silence surrounding efforts to secure the release of the 16 worshippers, including women and children, who were abducted during an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in the community.That fateful evening in April, armed hoodlums invaded the church during a programme, shot the pastor dead and abducted 16 worshippers. The victims were initially marched into a nearby bush before being moved to a forest in neighbouring Kwara State, where the kidnappers demanded N1bn ransom from the community.Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. As the days stretched into weeks, families, community leaders and volunteers battled not only fear and uncertainty but also the enormous task of raising millions of naira to secure their loved ones’ freedom.So, when news broke in the early hours of Saturday, July 4, 2026, that the worshippers abducted from Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State on April 28 had regained their freedom, many residents dismissed it as yet another rumour.Their disbelief stemmed from the prolonged silence surrounding efforts to secure the release of the 16 worshippers, including women and children, who were abducted during an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in the community.That fateful evening in April, armed hoodlums invaded the church during a programme, shot the pastor dead and abducted 16 worshippers. The victims were initially marched into a nearby bush before being moved to a forest in neighbouring Kwara State, where the kidnappers demanded N1bn ransom from the community.Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. So, when news broke in the early hours of Saturday, July 4, 2026, that the worshippers abducted from Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State on April 28 had regained their freedom, many residents dismissed it as yet another rumour.Their disbelief stemmed from the prolonged silence surrounding efforts to secure the release of the 16 worshippers, including women and children, who were abducted during an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in the community.That fateful evening in April, armed hoodlums invaded the church during a programme, shot the pastor dead and abducted 16 worshippers. The victims were initially marched into a nearby bush before being moved to a forest in neighbouring Kwara State, where the kidnappers demanded N1bn ransom from the community.Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Their disbelief stemmed from the prolonged silence surrounding efforts to secure the release of the 16 worshippers, including women and children, who were abducted during an attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in the community.That fateful evening in April, armed hoodlums invaded the church during a programme, shot the pastor dead and abducted 16 worshippers. The victims were initially marched into a nearby bush before being moved to a forest in neighbouring Kwara State, where the kidnappers demanded N1bn ransom from the community.Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. That fateful evening in April, armed hoodlums invaded the church during a programme, shot the pastor dead and abducted 16 worshippers. The victims were initially marched into a nearby bush before being moved to a forest in neighbouring Kwara State, where the kidnappers demanded N1bn ransom from the community.Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Security agencies, including the police, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes, immediately launched efforts to rescue the victims. The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, repeatedly assured residents that every effort was being made to secure their release.But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. But freedom came at a heavy price.One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. One of the victims, an octogenarian woman, died in captivity, reportedly due to illness and the harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp. The community also raised N25.5m, in addition to food items and petrol, to secure the release of the remaining captives.Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Multiple sources in Eda Oniyo toldThe PUNCHthat the ransom was paid in two installments. About three weeks after the abduction, the kidnappers reduced their demand from N1bn to N50m. Community representatives took N10.5m, two bags of rice and 30 litres of petrol to them. The abductors accepted the items and cash but insisted on the N50m demand.A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. A community leader, who identified himself simply as Oluseun and first broke the news of the victims’ release toThe PUNCH,said another N15m, five bags of rice and some litres of petrol were delivered to the kidnappers on Thursday, July 2.He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. He said, “When we told them on Wednesday (July 1) that we had been able to raise N15m through donations from public-spirited individuals, they asked us to bring it, which we did on Thursday to secure our people’s release.“They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “They called us on Saturday (July 4) morning to say they had dropped the victims in a community in either Kogi or Kwara State. Our people immediately went there and brought them back to Eda Oniyo.”The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. The victims’ return later that Saturday was greeted with mixed emotions. While residents celebrated the release of their loved ones after more than two months in captivity, the joy was tempered by the death of one of the victims and the frail condition of those who survived.The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. The freed worshippers, visibly emaciated and weak, were initially taken to the General Hospital, Iye Ekiti, before Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they be transferred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for comprehensive medical care.A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. A community source said, “Fifteen victims returned. They all look pale. The 80-year-old woman among them died while in captivity.”Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, described the development as both joyful and heartbreaking.“I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “I am happy that our people have regained their freedom, but I am equally saddened because we lost one woman in captivity. We thank God for those who returned alive,” he said.Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Dada explained that after receiving information that the victims had been released, local officials, accompanied by security personnel, travelled to pick them up before conveying them to Eda Oniyo and subsequently to the hospital.He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. He described their condition as alarming.“They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “They cannot walk. They are injured because the kidnappers beat them. They also told us they had not eaten for more than a week. Honestly, their condition is very bad, but we thank God they are alive,” he said.Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Another community leader, Ayodele Oni, said the release had finally ended more than 65 days of anguish for both the victims and the entire community.“It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “It also brought to an end weeks of painful negotiations with heartless criminals,” he said.According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. According to Oni, the kidnappers remained fixated on collecting ransom throughout the negotiations.“Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “Whenever they called, the discussion was always about paying the N50m they demanded. Even when they called on Tuesday, that was all they talked about.“When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “When we paid N10.5m three weeks after the abduction, they collected it but still insisted on N50m. At one point, when we told them we could only raise N2m, they cursed us and told us to sell our land and property if we truly wanted our people back.“They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “They even claimed they were buying biscuits for our children while accusing us of refusing to pay the ransom,” he said.Related NewsAshe declares readiness for Commonwealth GamesAmusan secures 2026 Diamond League final spotFirm sponsors football competition to promote healthy livingOni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Oni thanked the Ekiti State Government and security agencies for their efforts throughout the ordeal and commended the medical attention being provided for the victims at EKSUTH.The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. The National President of the Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, also expressed gratitude over the release of the worshippers.“I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “I am excited. I give glory to God Almighty,” he said.Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Ajayi, a former commissioner in the state, attributed the victims’ release to prayers, persistence and the willingness of the kidnappers to eventually accept what the community could raise.“We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “We prayed, we fasted and God answered our prayers by redeeming them. We prayed that God would touch the hearts of the kidnappers so they would accept whatever we could offer for the release of our people, and He did.“When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “When we told them that what we had was all the people could contribute and that the government had not given us any money, they accepted the N15m on Thursday and released our people,” he said.Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Despite the payment by the community, Ajayi commended the Ekiti State Government for maintaining its policy against paying ransom, describing the stance as a bold strategy that could discourage kidnappers from seeing the state as a lucrative target.“Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “Honestly, if the government had paid the ransom, kidnappers would keep coming to Ekiti because they would know the state would always give them money,” he said.He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. He argued that denying criminals the incentive of government-funded ransom payments would ultimately weaken their operations and reinforce the state’s resolve against violent crime.Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Meanwhile, the freed victims, weak and exhausted after spending more than two months in captivity, were assisted from the bus into the wards at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed that they receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment.In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor also directed the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the victims’ welfare, with the state government footing all medical bills.According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. According to Oyebode, the victims would remain under medical supervision until they were certified fit to reunite with their families.The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. The statement added that Oyebanji appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the victims and commended the heads of security agencies in the state, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda Oniyo community and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, among other stakeholders, for their roles in securing the victims’ release.The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and urged those politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts to make the state safer.He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. He also extended his condolences to the family of the elderly woman who died in captivity.Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, SP Sunday Abutu, said the abducted worshippers had been successfully rescued.Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Abutu said security operatives were intensifying efforts to apprehend the kidnappers, adding that the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led operations involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.“The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. “The rescued victims have been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they receive adequate medical care,” he said.According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy among all security stakeholders whose collaborative efforts culminated in the victims’ rescue.He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. He also thanked the Oyebanji administration for its unwavering support for security agencies and appreciated residents for their vigilance and timely supply of credible information. He urged members of the public to remain alert and continue to report suspicious activities to the police and other security agencies.Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Only days before the victims regained their freedom, an 11-member delegation from Eda Oniyo met with a state government team led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, over the prolonged captivity of the worshippers.Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Ogundana had assured the delegation that the government was handling the matter with utmost attention and care to ensure the victims’ safe return. He also dismissed allegations that the state government had remained silent over the incident, insisting that security operations could not be conducted in the public glare.For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. For more than two months after the April 28 abduction, anxiety had gripped Eda Oniyo as residents waited for the fulfilment of repeated assurances that their loved ones would return home safely.In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the state government dispatched two separate delegations to the community—one led by Ogundana and another by Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye—to reassure residents that every effort would be made to secure the victims’ release.Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. Representing Governor Oyebanji during one of the visits, Afuye told the grieving community: “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We truly feel your pain and what you are going through.”The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State. The governor also used the occasion to urge residents of border communities adjoining Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent criminals from exploiting forests and other porous routes into Ekiti State.