Five worshippers abducted from an ECWA Church in Omugo are believed dead in captivity. The victims were kidnapped during a violent raid on March 22, 2026.
Zubair Olaitan, Kwara South's Joint Security Coordinator, confirmed the reports to DAILY POST on Wednesday. He said intelligence from the terrorists' camp pointed to the deaths.
Among the deceased is Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole, wife of the church pastor. Four other abductees are also believed killed.
One person who escaped from the kidnappers provided details of the deaths. However, specifics about how and where they died remain unclear.
"Five of the Omugo abductees have died in captivity," a source told reporters. "No details of how and where they died," the source added.
Families of the victims have already been informed of the tragic news. Relatives were plunged into mourning upon hearing the revelation.
Gunmen stormed ECWA Church in the Oro Ago District during a Sunday service. They opened fire inside and around the building before abducting about eight worshippers.
Panic erupted among congregants as the armed men dragged people into nearby forests. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as bullets flew across the church premises.
The kidnappers later contacted families with a ransom demand of ₦1 billion. They went through the father of one abductee to communicate.
Negotiations saw the amount reduced from the initial figure. Still, relatives struggled to meet the terrorists' demands.
Families paid approximately ₦20 million to the abductors over time. They also delivered food supplies and hot drinks as requested.
Despite these efforts, the captives were never released. The gesture failed to secure their freedom.
Security agencies had launched joint rescue operations to locate the victims. They pledged to apprehend those responsible for the church attack.
Official authorities have not yet formally confirmed the reported deaths. No statement from government spokespeople was available as of Wednesday's filing.
