By Labaran G-Labaran
Three abducted worshippers at ECWA Church in Àyetoro-Kiri in Kabba/ Bunu local government in kogi state released on Saturday by their assailants have died on their way back home.
The community spokesperson, David Ampitan disclosed this at the weekend to newsmen that three of the freed seven worshippers from the scores of the abducted worshippers died on arrival in the town .
He added an elderly woman who was among the seven released captives died in the bush , and the community is making efforts to retrieve her corpse in the forest for burial .
David Ampitan stressed further that the seven were released at the weekend after “painful ransom payment” to their assailants.
“The remaining four have been admitted in the hospital for treatment. Our people are tired of burying loved ones, tired of selling properties and contributing scarce resources to pay ransom, and tired of living under perpetual fear while those in authority remain indifferent”, he said
The community stakeholders attributed the worsening insecurity in Bunu land to the “persistent bandits’ attacks and official negligence”, expressing fears that the situation may deteriorate further if urgent action is not taken .
They called for immediate intervention of the state and federal governments for the remaining 31 under captivity to regain their freedom, and probably to reduce the humanitarian crisis in the community.
A stakeholder in the flank , Senator Dino Melaye condemned the death of the abducted worshippers, urging the state government to take responsibility over the ugly development and enthroned humanitarian crisis in the community.
The death of 3 Aiyetoro Kiri indigenes will, and should be taken seriously. There are no decisive and pragmatic approach from the state and federal governments. We as Okun people are tax payers and should not be abandoned.
“We will organise the kind of protest the police cannot stop ,if the stealing and killing of our people continue…we want to see a deliberate ,organised and within efforts to secure and recover our people”, he said
However, the Kogi Government has vowed to sustain ongoing crackdown on criminal elements across the state.
In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo on Saturday, the government assured that a decisive actions are ongoing to restore peace and rescue abducted victims from the hands of their abductors.
“We understand the trauma faced by families of kidnapped victims. We are also very concerned about their well-being . The Governor has invested heavily in ensuring the state possesses the capacity to crush criminal elements.
“We will make sure every Kogite in their hands is rescued. We also sympathise with families that have lost loved ones. We are making progress, and the security situation has improved significantly”, he said.
The bandits had invaded the branch of ECWA at Ayetoro Kiri on 14th December and abducted unspecified number of worshippers, including elderly, aged women and children in the process of the attack .
