Kidnapped Pastor Killed Despite Ransom Payment,

Kwara State communities are in shock after Reverend James Audu Issa, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), was killed by kidnappers despite a ransom payment from his family.

The pastor was abducted on August 28, 2025, from Ekati village in Patigi Local Government Area. According to sources, the kidnappers initially demanded N100 million for his release. After intense negotiations, the ransom was reduced to N5 million, which the impoverished community paid in a desperate attempt to save him.

Tragically, after receiving the payment, the kidnappers demanded an additional N45 million. Before any further arrangements could be made, Pastor Issa was killed, highlighting the extreme ruthlessness of criminal gangs operating in Kwara North. Nupeko TV described the incident as a “ransom-for-murder” scenario, where victims are killed even after families exhaust themselves to meet demands.

The pastor’s death has devastated the Ekati community and the wider Patigi Emirate, deepening fears among residents who have long faced insecurity in the region.

The wave of violence in Kwara North continues to escalate. Earlier reports from SaharaReporters indicated that a police officer, identified as Ezra, was abducted while returning from duty in Patigi Local Government Area. Ezra’s colleague managed to escape the ambush, but Ezra was overpowered and taken to an undisclosed location.

In another incident, two brothers were abducted while working on a cassava farm in Bokungi Zambufu community, Edu Local Government Area. One of the victims, Mohammed Mohammed, is a former president of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS). Villagers fled during the attack, underscoring the growing threat to farmers and agricultural activities in the area.

Security authorities have not issued official statements regarding these attacks, and residents continue to call for urgent action to address the rising insecurity that threatens lives and livelihoods in Kwara North.