The Ekiti State Police Command has dismissed a police officer, Sergeant Osayingbemi Temitope, over alleged misconduct linked to the consumption of illicit drugs.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, the Command said the officer was found behaving erratically in a viral social media video recorded in Ikole-Ekiti on May 9, 2026.

According to the statement, the officer was immediately subjected to medical and psychological evaluations following the incident.

The Command disclosed that the psychological assessment showed that the officer was emotionally stable, while the medical test confirmed that he tested positive for tobacco and amphetamine.

It added that during further investigations, the officer admitted to taking illicit drugs.

The statement noted that internal disciplinary procedures had been concluded and the officer was found culpable of misconduct.

“The officer was recommended for dismissal and the recommendation was upheld. The Command hereby confirms his dismissal, which takes immediate effect,” the statement said.

The Command reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force remains a disciplined organisation and would not tolerate acts of indiscipline, unprofessional conduct or any behaviour capable of tarnishing the image of the Force.

The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Falade Adegoroye Micheal, charged officers of the Command to uphold professionalism, accountability, integrity and remain committed to their statutory responsibility of protecting lives and property.

Suspected gunmen who attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo, Ekiti State, have demanded a ransom of one billion naira for the release of 15 worshippers abducted during the incident, which also left one person dead.

The Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Joseph Awolola, disclosed this while addressing journalists, noting that the kidnappers had established contact with the community and made their demand known. He appealed to the government to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of the victims.

Meanwhile, traditional rulers from neighbouring communities, including the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Oba Bamidele Adeniran, and the Owa of Iludun, Oba Adeniran, have called for a temporary ban on evening worship activities and a comprehensive overhaul of the security architecture in the area.

The monarchs also lamented the absence of security personnel, alleging that it took over an hour for security operatives to respond after the attack.

On their part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.), and the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, who visited the community for an on-the-spot assessment, assured residents that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims.

They urged residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and useful information.

At least 15 persons were kidnapped during the attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Ominira, in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Gunmen on Sunday night abducted Mrs. Patience Nasamu, wife of Pastor Samuel Nasamu of the Word of God Church, Agyaragu, and a female church member who was visiting the family, in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Pastor Nasamu, recounting the incident, said his wife, who is nursing a three-month-old baby, was taken alongside the visitor shortly after a church service.

“I had just stepped out to pray for a sick member when my wife called me. All I could hear was her praying; she couldn’t even explain what was happening. By the time I rushed back, both she and our visitor had been abducted, leaving our baby behind,” he said.

According to him, the attackers arrived at about 8:15 p.m., smashing windows and doors with a hammer in an attempt to gain entry. When that failed, they fired gunshots into the air, forcing his wife to open the door before whisking her and the church member away.

He added that no contact has been made by the kidnappers since the abduction, while police officers who visited the scene assured residents that investigations were ongoing.

A resident of Agyaragu, who spoke anonymously, described the spate of kidnappings in the area as “alarming,” and appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to take urgent action.

“We live in fear every day, knowing we could be kidnapped or killed if ransom is not paid. Farmers and residents are taken almost daily. Help us tell Governor A. A. Sule that Agyaragu is now at the mercy of kidnappers,” the resident lamented.