Gunmen Attack Church During Evening Service in Kwara State
At least two people have been killed and several others, including the pastor, kidnapped after gunmen invaded a church in Eruku, a community in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The attack took place on Tuesday evening during a mid-week church service, according to police and eyewitness accounts.
Police spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the incident, saying officers responded to gunfire around 6 p.m. and later found two victims — one inside the church and another nearby. Residents, however, reported that at least three worshippers may have been killed.
Worshippers Forced to Take Cover as Gunfire Erupted
A video verified by Reuters shows worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church diving for cover as continuous gunshots rang out. Armed men stormed the service, seized belongings, and marched several worshippers — including the pastor — into the surrounding bush.
A church member, Joseph Bitrus, told reporters that the attackers “rounded up people at gunpoint and disappeared into the forest,” although the exact number of abductees remains unclear.
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Attack Comes Days After Schoolgirls Were Abducted in Kebbi
The incident occurred barely 48 hours after armed men abducted 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State. The two incidents have intensified pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who postponed planned foreign trips to receive urgent security briefings.
According to the presidency, Tinubu has ordered a coordinated manhunt to rescue both the abducted schoolgirls and the kidnapped worshippers. “Security agencies must do everything possible to bring the victims back safely,” presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said.
Growing Global Attention as Security Crisis Deepens
Nigeria continues to battle multiple security challenges — Islamist insurgents in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, and farmer-herder clashes in the central region. International voices, including US rapper Nicki Minaj, have recently raised concerns over religious attacks.
Speaking at the U.S. mission to the United Nations, Minaj said Christians in Nigeria were “being targeted and driven from their homes,” calling for global action.
Kwara State Government Demands Reinforcement
Following the latest attack, the Kwara State governor has requested an immediate deployment of additional security personnel to protect communities and aid rescue operations.
Meanwhile, authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of abducted worshippers or their condition as the search continues across surrounding forests.
