Bandits who abducted over 30 residents of Eruku community during a church service on Tuesday have placed a ransom of N100m on each victim.

Some family members who were allegedly contacted by the daredevil bandits on phone revealed this on Thursday.

The bandits, during the bloody attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday, killed three persons, abducted over 30 worshippers, and looted their valuables in the church during the service.

READ ALSO:Troops Destroy Bandits’ Camp, Arrest Seven Suspected Cultists In Benue

Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, who confirmed the latest development on the ransom demand from the bandits, disclosed that four members of his family were among those whisked away.

He recounted that “He was inside the church with five relatives when the gunmen struck, but I managed to flee with one ward by jumping through a window at about 6:06 p.m.”

Olukotun said the abductors had already begun placing calls to different families.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers’ camp, they have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the groups.

READ ALSO:Soldiers Kill 80 Bandits In Kebbi Border Clash

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person, but as regards my own people, I have not received any call concerning them, so I am still waiting,” he stated.

The community leader also emphasised the urgent need for stronger security deployment in Eruku, a border town with Kogi State long vulnerable to criminal incursions.

He urged the government to upgrade the local vigilante outfit with modern defensive equipment capable of matching the firepower of the attackers.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has said that the judgment in the trial of the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will be delivered in the defendant’s absence.

Advertisement
Omotoso gave the ruling during the resumed trial of Kanu on Thursday following what he described as Kanu’s unruly behavour in court.

The judge had earlier ordered the IPOB leader to be removed from the courtroom after he became unruly midway through proceedings on Thursday.

READ ALSO:Four Sentenced To Death Over Kano Garage Owner’s Murder

Omotoso had ruled and dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu after the case was adjourned for judgment and dismissed them for being unmeritorious.

As the judge moved to deliver the ruling earlier, scheduled for Thursday, November 20, Kanu argued that the court could not proceed because he had yet to file his final written address.

Raising his voice, Kanu accused Omotosho of being biased and claimed that the judge did not know the law.

Kanu was later moved out of the courtroom, while the judge proceeded to deliver the final judgment in his absence.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Nnamdi Kanu of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to be removed from the courtroom following his “unruly” conduct before the judgement in the matter on Thursday.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu after the case was adjourned for judgment and dismissed them for being unmeritorious.

The judge further ruled that because of his “unruly and violent behaviour”, the main judgement can be delivered in his absence.

When the judge moved to deliver the ruling earlier scheduled for Thursday, Kanu argued that the court could not proceed because he was yet to file his final written address.

Raising his voice, Kanu accused the judge of being biased and claimed that the judge did not know the law.

The judge subsequently proceeded to deliver the judgement.

Details shortly….