Oke Isegun in the Eruku community of Ekiti Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, has been rocked with grief after armed bandits stormed and attacked a church in the community.
It was gathered that the assailants, whose identity remains unconfirmed, opened fire indiscriminately during the attack on the Kwara Church identified as Christ Apostolic Church (CAC).
The attack reportedly resulted in the death of three worshippers and the mass abduction of many others.
This latest incident comes amid a wave of religious-target attacks in Kwara state since the start of 2025.
A video of the attack, captured during a live stream, shows that worshippers were conducting a service when the attack on the Kwara Church began.
Sporadic gunshots were heard from around the church premises. The congregation, led by a young pastor, scampered for safety as the gunshots intensified, after which some bandits were seen entering the church. The attack reportedly happened at about 6pm.
More than five armed bandits stormed the building and ransacked the place of worship, carting away the belongings of the worshippers.
An eyewitness who spoke with the press on the condition of anonymity confirmed that the armed bandits killed three worshippers and took the pastor and an unknown number of members away during the attack on the Kwara Church.
“The gunmen came into the church while people were gathered. They started shooting, and three people died immediately. They later rounded up some worshippers, including the pastor, and marched them into the bush,” the eyewitness said.
Also, a community leader, Benjamin Ayeoribe, has called out to the government, lamenting that Eruku has been under banditry attacks in the last three weeks, noting that distress calls to authorities have yielded no results.
“We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police command in Kwara said three persons, including a vigilante were injured in the attack without confirming the number of those abducted or killed.
In a statement, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, police spokesperson in Kwara, said operatives in collaboration with vigilantes, responded to what he called “an attempted bandit attack in Eruku”.
She said the bandits fled into the bush following the intervention of the police team and the vigilantes.
Ejire-Adeyemi said, “One male victim Mr Aderemi was discovered fatally shot inside the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun; while one Mr Tunde Asaba Ajayi another victim of fatal gunshot was found in the bush, a vigilante, Segun Alaja sustained gunshot injuries and was immediately rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku, for medical treatment”.
She quoted Adekunle Ojo, Commissioner of Police in Kwara, as commending the s! Swift response of the police and vigilantes”, adding that “he also assures the public that security agencies will not relent until these hoodlums are totally decimated,”
The latest comes less than 48 hours after some bandits raided Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi state, and abducted 25 schoolgirls.
This attack also comes amid international pressure on the Nigerian government to end Christian genocide in the country.
United States President, Donald Trump had recently redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious violations.
He also threatened to put “boots on the ground” if the administration of President Bola Tinubu failed to solve the problem.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have joined their voices to condemn another attack on a Christian community.
Many have called on the government to ensure the security of the lives and properties of all Nigerians regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
Below are some of the reactions;
