At least five worshippers kidnapped during the violent attack on ECWA Church in Omugo, located in the Oro Ago District of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, are now feared dead while in the custody of the terrorists who abducted them. The Coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Security, Zubair Olaitan, confirmed the development to Daily post on Wednesday.
The grim news emerged from information filtering out of the terrorists’ camp, including accounts said to have been provided by one of the abductees who reportedly escaped from the armed group. According to informed sources, the wife of the church pastor, Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, is among those believed to have been killed alongside four other captives.
One of the sources disclosed that five of the Omugo abductees had died in captivity, although the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear. The source added that the information was allegedly relayed by the escapee, who managed to flee the kidnappers’ den. Families of the victims have already been informed, plunging the affected households into deep mourning.
The victims were among worshippers abducted on March 22, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen stormed ECWA Church, Omugo, during a service in the Oro Ago area. Witnesses recounted how the attackers opened fire within and around the church premises, causing panic before seizing about eight worshippers and dragging them into nearby forests.
After the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the families through the father of one of the victims and demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion, an amount later reduced during negotiations. Despite alleged efforts by relatives to secure the captives’ release including the delivery of about ₦20 million, food items, and alcoholic drinks requested by the abductors the victims were not freed.
Security agencies had earlier stated that joint rescue operations were underway to locate the abductees and track down the perpetrators. However, official confirmation regarding the reported deaths was still unavailable at the time of filing this report.
