In Kwara State, Reverend James Audu Issa, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), was cruelly assassinated by robbers despite obtaining a ₦5 million ransom from his distraught family and community.
The preacher was kidnapped from Ekati village in the Patigi Local Government Area on August 28, 2025, according to information obtained.
In an effort to secure his release, his family, church members, and the community banded together for weeks to raise the ransom.
Nupeko TV, an indigenous media outlet, claims that the gunmen first sought ₦100 million in exchange for Issa’s release. Following extensive discussions, the ransom was lowered to ₦5 million, which the community reluctantly collected and gave.
However, the thieves allegedly wanted an extra ₦45m after taking the ₦5m. They murdered the preacher before new talks could start.
The viciousness of the bandit organizations terrorizing Kwara North is highlighted by this act of violence, which is referred to as a ransom-for-murder scenario. The pastor’s passing is a devastating loss to Ekati and the Patigi Emirate as a whole, especially in light of the community’s tremendous sacrifice, the media outlet said in its broadcast.
The preacher was killed amid a series of violent attacks in Kwara North, according to reports.
A police officer named Ezra was kidnapped by bandits on the Patigi-Lade road on Thursday morning.
Ezra, a native of the Ndanakun community, was ambushed while riding his motorcycle back from night duty. Ezra was overpowered and taken away while his teammate managed to flee.
According to a source cited by SaharaReporters, “They were shooting guns sporadically.” The kidnapping underscores the boldness of armed groups operating in the Patigi and Edu LGAs.
Two brothers were abducted from their cassava farm in Bokungi Zambufu, which is within the jurisdiction of Lafiagi Emirate, only twenty-four hours prior.
Mohammed Mohammed, a well-known community figure and past president of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS), was named as one of the fatalities.
According to witnesses, the two brothers were apprehended when the gunmen invaded the farms, opened fire, and drove the residents away.
Farmers and locals in Kwara North, where frequent kidnappings and murders are ruining agriculture and lives, are more terrified as a result of the attacks.
Leaders in the community blame officials for not living up to their rhetoric. “Our people are unable to visit their farms anymore. One homeowner bemoaned, “We live in fear every day.”
Security services had not yet released an official statement either the pastor’s murder or the most recent kidnappings as of the time of publication.
