Community devastated as bandits demand more despite initial payment
A wave of grief has swept through Ekati village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State following the killing of Reverend James Audu Issa, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), by terrorists who abducted him in late August 2025.
The cleric was kidnapped on August 28, and his family, church, and community members worked tirelessly to raise the ransom demanded by his abductors. Initially, the kidnappers requested ₦100 million, but after lengthy negotiations, the sum was reduced to ₦5 million. The money was eventually paid by the impoverished community in hopes of securing his freedom.
However, after collecting the ransom, the terrorists cruelly demanded an additional ₦45 million. Before any fresh negotiations could be made, they killed the pastor.
Nupeko TV, which reported the incident, described the killing as a “ransom-for-murder” case, stressing that the community’s sacrifice had been met with ruthless betrayal. The killing, it added, highlights the increasing brutality of bandit groups terrorizing Kwara North.
“This act of brutality, where victims are murdered even after their families exhaust their resources, underscores the merciless nature of the criminal gangs,” the report said. “The death of Rev. Issa is a severe blow not just to Ekati village but to the entire Patigi Emirate, deepening insecurity and despair.”
The tragedy comes amid rising cases of abductions in Kwara North. SaharaReporters earlier reported that a police officer identified as Ezra was kidnapped in Patigi on Thursday morning. The officer, an indigene of Ndanakun community, was ambushed by gunmen while returning from duty on his motorcycle. Though his colleague managed to escape, Ezra was overpowered and whisked away.
Similarly, two brothers were abducted on Wednesday while working on their cassava farm in Bokungi Zambufu, under the Lafiagi Emirate in Edu Local Government Area. One of them, Mohammed Mohammed, a former President of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS), was among those taken.
The repeated attacks have intensified fears among farmers and residents, with many warning that agriculture in Kwara North is under grave threat. Locals continue to accuse security authorities of failing to act decisively against the growing menace.
As of press time, police authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the killing of the ECWA pastor or the other abductions in the state.
