Ekiti Church Attack Victims Remain in Captivity Over 35 Days Later

More than 35 days after a deadly attack on a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eda-Oniyo community, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, 16 worshippers—including children—remain in captivity.

The victims were abducted on April 28, 2026, when suspected bandits stormed the church during a service, killing the presiding pastor before whisking away worshippers into the forest.

Residents say at least five of those abducted were children, raising further concern over the humanitarian impact of the incident.

In the days following the attack, the kidnappers reportedly demanded ₦1 billion as ransom. The figure was later reduced to ₦150 million and then ₦50 million, according to community sources familiar with the negotiations.

Despite these developments, families of the victims say there has been no meaningful breakthrough in securing their release. One resident described the situation as deeply distressing, noting that the community remains in a state of fear and uncertainty.

“For 34 days, these children and others have remained in captivity while their families live in fear, uncertainty, and pain,” a source said.

Another resident, who spoke emotionally about the incident, said the entire community has been left shaken by the prolonged silence and lack of clear updates from authorities.

Meanwhile, concerns have continued to grow over the absence of visible progress in rescue efforts, as families await news of their loved ones.

The incident has also unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing political activities in the state, with the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, continuing his re-election campaign across all 16 local government areas.

The situation has intensified public debate over security response and the safety of rural communities in Ekiti State.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has declared that he has ruled out supporting both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Lawal made the remarks during a television interview on Tuesday, where he also renewed criticism of the ADC presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate.

Allegations of Irregularities in ADC Primary

The former SGF alleged that the ADC primary process was manipulated, insisting that the results announced at the national level did not reflect votes recorded at the local government level.

He claimed to possess documents showing discrepancies between results from polling levels and figures eventually declared at the national collation centre in Abuja.

According to him, businessman and aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen reportedly scored significantly higher votes in some areas, but the figures were allegedly altered before final announcement.

Lawal further alleged that some officials involved in the process privately admitted to adjustments in the results, claiming it was done to avoid political embarrassment.

He also questioned delays in transmitting results from Adamawa State to the national collation centre, suggesting possible interference in the process.

Defence of His Position

Despite his criticisms, Lawal insisted his position was not driven by personal animosity toward Atiku Abubakar or any other aspirant.

He argued that credible leadership can only emerge from transparent electoral processes, warning that flawed systems produce weak governance outcomes.

He also maintained that he would not retract earlier controversial remarks that attracted public backlash, saying they were based on his personal experiences and perceptions of political exclusion.

Political Future and 2027 Outlook

Lawal stated that he has now stepped back from active partisan politics and is yet to decide who to support in the 2027 presidential election.

He added that while he has eliminated both APC and ADC from his options, he remains open to evaluating other emerging candidates and political alliances.

The former SGF also hinted that he could consider voting for alternative candidates, including activist Omoyele Sowore, depending on how the political landscape evolves.

Lawal concluded by saying that the quality of leadership Nigeria produces depends heavily on the credibility of the process through which candidates emerge, stressing the need for fairness and transparency in party primaries.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the alleged unauthorised release of voter registration details belonging to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike.

The controversy stems from a social media post by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who shared screenshots on X allegedly showing Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer details from Imo State to Abuja.

The post raised concerns after it appeared to originate from a restricted administrative portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), sparking public outrage over possible misuse of sensitive electoral data.

INEC Responds to Allegations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later issued a statement dismissing claims of external hacking into its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database.

According to the commission, the incident did not result from an external breach but rather the misuse of valid internal credentials by authorised personnel, leading to unauthorised disclosure of voter information.

Atiku Demands Accountability

In a statement issued by his aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said INEC’s admission raises serious concerns about internal controls and data security within the electoral body.

He stressed that Nigerians deserve clarity on how sensitive voter information ended up in the public domain and allegedly in the hands of political actors.

Atiku called for answers to key questions, including who accessed the data, who requested it, and how it was transferred outside INEC’s custody.

He argued that the absence of an external hack does not reduce the seriousness of the incident, but rather highlights deeper institutional vulnerabilities.

Concerns Over Electoral Integrity

The former vice-president also urged INEC to go beyond press statements and publish full findings of any investigation to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

He further suggested that the matter raises broader concerns about political interference and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral systems ahead of future elections.

The controversy continues to generate debate over data protection, institutional accountability, and the security of voter information in Nigeria’s electoral framework.