Information regarding the victims kidnapped during Tuesday's attack on the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State, where gunmen killed two worshipers and took dozens more, has surfaced. The National Pilot released a list of 38 kidnapped churchgoers on Thursday, claiming to have gathered the information from local sources. An Ilorin-based daily reports that "30 of the 38 abductees are women," and "the youngest victim is seven years old and the oldest is sixty-four."
According to earlier reports, the terrorists broke into the church during a worship session, shooting at the congregation and making many of them run.
Two dead bodies were found following the event, according to Police Public Relations Officer Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, who also stated that "operatives and vigilantes responded to gunshots from the outskirts of the community and forced the attackers to flee."
Residents reported that during the raid, around thirty people were marched into the bush.
The names and ages of 38 individuals are on the list that is currently making the rounds in the neighborhood.
Among the residents kidnapped are:
Timileyin Joshua (22), Elizabeth Rotimi (27), Samuel Ayodele (34), Olutokun Yetunde (23), Olutokun Janet (36), Olutokun Juwon (10), Olutokun Jumbu (12), Ebenezer Aina (24), Titilayo Balogun (59), Opeyemi Asaba (24), Grace Balogun (62), Ayodele Taye (42), Oloke Funmilayo (42), Joseph Olaitan (24), Eniola Princess (23), Comfort Atolani (44), Joanah Atolani (7), Funmilayo Joshua (64), Iyabo Michael (32), Iyabo Ajayi (40), Adeojo Ojasope (19), Ojo Ajayi (10), Deborah Peter (38), Omolola Mustapha (40), Idowu Mustapha (17), Emmanuel Bamidele (22), Ade Ajayi (7), Foluso Caleb (42), Funmilayo Ayodele (37), Folorunso Bamidele (42), Akinola Babalola (14).
This publication was informed by community members that the abductees were kidnapped during a midweek prayer service.
Residents were "still trying to determine the exact number taken because many people fled into surrounding farmlands during the gunfire," according to a church official.
The incident was connected by the state administration to more general instability along the Kwara–Kogi border axis.
The Nigerian Army has taken over the neighborhood, according to a statement released by the government on Wednesday.
"Our government will not leave any stone unturned to return total calm in Eruku," declared Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited the area alongside security commanders.
Additionally, he informed a Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) conference in Ilorin that federal and state officials were cooperating to achieve the release of the residents who had been kidnapped. "You're not by yourself.
"Every necessary action is being taken by the government to stabilize the region," he stated.