A pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Reverend James Audu Issa, has been killed by bandits in Kwara State despite the payment of a ₦5 million ransom by his family and community, Naija News reports.

Issa was abducted on August 28, 2025, from Ekati village in Patigi Local Government Area. For weeks, his relatives, church members, and local residents struggled to raise funds to secure his release.

According to Nupeko TV, the assailants initially demanded ₦100 million but later reduced the ransom to ₦5 million after negotiations. The community painfully gathered the sum and handed it over.

However, after collecting the money, the bandits reportedly demanded an additional ₦45 million. Before any fresh talks could begin, they killed the cleric.

“This act of brutality, known as a ransom-for-murder scenario, underscores the ruthlessness of the bandit groups terrorising Kwara North. The death of the pastor, particularly after the community’s immense sacrifice, is a severe blow to Ekati and the entire Patigi Emirate,” the platform reported.

The killing comes amid a string of violent attacks and abductions that have plagued Kwara North in recent months, heightening fear and insecurity across the region.