Rampaging bandits on Tuesday evening killed three people and abducted at least ten worshippers during a service at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Spokesperson for the Eruku community, Olasukanmi Ayeni, confirmed the incident, describing it as a devastating escalation of persistent attempts by armed men to breach the town. He said the attackers stormed the church around 6pm and opened fire on worshippers during the service.
Ayeni identified the deceased as Tunde Asabe, Segun Alaja, and one Deremi. He added that a young girl who sustained a deep gunshot wound to the neck remained in critical condition at a hospital.
“The people were abducted inside the church; there are about ten, but it could be more than that. The three corpses are still inside the church as we speak,” he said.
According to him, bandits had been attempting to gain access to Eruku for about four weeks through the Eruku–Egbe and Eruku–Omu-Aran routes but were repelled by local hunters and vigilantes. He lamented that repeated rescue calls to the state and local government authorities were ignored prior to Tuesday’s deadly breach.
Ayeni criticised the Ekiti Local Government chairman, Wale Awelewa, for allegedly rebuffing the community’s pleas and failing to visit the town after the attack. He, however, praised the local police for consistently assisting community hunters in pushing back the armed groups.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi. According to the command, the Divisional Police Officer in Eruku and his team, working with vigilantes, responded swiftly to gunshots heard on the outskirts of the town, forcing the attackers to flee into the bush.
The police reported that one victim, Mr. Aderemi, was found shot dead inside the church, while another, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was discovered fatally wounded in the bush. A vigilante member, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot injuries and was taken to ECWA Hospital in Eruku for treatment.
Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, commended the rapid response of officers and local vigilantes and assured residents that security agencies would intensify efforts to track down the attackers and restore safety in the area.
