Grief has engulfed communities in Kwara State after kidnappers killed a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Reverend James Issa, despite his family and church members paying N5 million in ransom for his release.
Rev. Issa was kidnapped from Ekati village in Patigi Local Government Area on August 28, 2025. His family, congregation, and community members reportedly struggled for weeks to raise the ransom after his abductors reduced their initial demand from N100 million to N5 million.
However, after collecting the money, the criminals shocked the community by demanding an additional N45 million. Before further talks could take place, the pastor was killed, an act residents described as an unbearable betrayal.
Nupeko TV, citing community sources, said the killing exemplifies a “ransom-for-murder” strategy increasingly adopted by bandit groups in Kwara North, where victims are killed even after their families sacrifice everything to meet ransom demands.
The tragedy has deepened the sense of fear and insecurity across Patigi Emirate, where residents say the government’s failure to protect lives is emboldening criminals.
The wave of attacks in Kwara North shows no sign of slowing. On Thursday, a police officer identified as Ezra was abducted in Patigi while returning from duty. He was ambushed by armed men while riding ahead of a colleague on a motorcycle. His colleague escaped, but Ezra was captured after the attackers opened fire.
In a separate incident, two brothers were seized on their cassava farm in Bokungi Zambufu community, Edu LGA, under the Lafiagi Emirate. Witnesses said gunmen stormed the farmland, shooting indiscriminately before abducting the brothers, one of whom is Mohammed Mohammed, a former president of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS).
Villagers warn that the sustained abductions are crippling farming and threatening food security in the region. They accuse authorities of neglecting Kwara North and call for urgent action to restore peace.
