Gunmen attacked a Church in Kwara State during a service, killing three people and abducting several others. According to police and community sources, the attack occurred at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday at CAC Oke in Eruku community.
Eyewitnesses said the bandits stormed the church, opened fire, and forced worshippers into nearby bush paths at gunpoint. Residents reported the attackers slipped into the village via bush trails, causing widespread panic.
One local leader claimed the assailants left three dead, though police initially confirmed two fatalities. According poliice police report, the victims included Mr. Aderemi, found shot inside the church, and Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, whose body was discovered in the bush.
A community spokesman, Olasukanmi Ayeni, said about ten people were abducted, including the pastor and other congregants. Furthermore, the spokesman disclosed that ransom demands reached ₦100 million per kidnapped worshipper, according to several family sources.
Moreover, the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the attack, describing it as a “bandits’ attempted raid” and said they responded with local vigilante support. They added that no arrests have been made so far, but security agencies launched a major manhunt into surrounding forests.
Meanwhile, the military deployed troops to Eruku, following promises from authorities to protect the community, local sources reported. Residents lamented that despite repeated distress calls to authorities in recent weeks, “nothing concrete has come.”
