The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed a violent attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, where bandits stormed an evening service on Tuesday, killing at least three people and abducting several worshippers.
The attack occurred around 6 p.m. during the church’s weekly programme. Police spokesperson Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi described the incident as “an attempted bandit attack,” noting that operatives and local vigilantes responded immediately after gunshots were heard on the outskirts of the town.
Operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer moved into the area and engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee into the surrounding forest.
“Upon a thorough search, one male victim, Mr. Aderemi, was found fatally shot inside the church, while another, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was discovered dead in the bush. A vigilante, Segun Alaja, who sustained gunshot injuries, was taken to ECWA Hospital for treatment,” the statement read.
Community leaders, however, told Vanguard that no fewer than three people were killed, including a young girl battling serious gunshot injuries. The community spokesperson, Olasukanmi Ayeni, said at least ten worshippers were abducted and warned that the number could be higher as families continue to account for missing relatives.
Ayeni revealed that bandits had attempted to infiltrate the community several times in recent weeks through the Eruku–Egbe and Eruku–Omu-Aran routes before local hunters and vigilantes repelled them. He lamented that repeated distress calls to state and local authorities were ignored.
He commended the police for coordinating effectively with hunters and vigilantes during the attack.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, praised the swift response of officers and vowed that the command would pursue the attackers relentlessly.
Following the circulation of a disturbing video showing bandits shooting inside the church and pursuing worshippers into smaller rooms, military personnel have now taken over security operations in Eruku.
Community spokesman Ayeni confirmed that soldiers arrived on Wednesday, joined by Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo and his team.
“As we speak, soldiers have taken over Eruku. We learnt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved their deployment. We also learnt Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is on his way to the community,” he said.
He added that several local hunters deployed to comb the forest in search of abducted victims had yet to return, raising concerns about their safety.
Attempts to reach CP Ojo for further updates were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered.
The viral video of the attack showed bandits shooting indiscriminately inside the church while terrified worshippers, including the elderly and children, scrambled for safety. Some bandits were also seen ransacking the pews and collecting handbags left behind by fleeing congregants.
Security operations continued throughout Wednesday as joint police-military teams searched the surrounding forests for the attackers and their captives.
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