Eruku, kwara State – A deadly attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State, claimed the lives of two worshippers and resulted in multiple abductions on the evening of Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The incident took place around 6 p.m., during an ongoing church program in preparation for a night vigil.

According to the Kwara State Police Command, gunmen opened fire from outside the church before forcibly entering the premises. Eyewitnesses reported that some attackers were masked, intensifying the fear and confusion among worshippers, many of whom scattered in panic to escape the onslaught. Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed that Mr. Aderemi was shot dead inside the church, while Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi was later found dead in a nearby bush. Additionally, a member of the local vigilante group, Segun Alaja, was injured and is currently receiving treatment at ECWA Hospital, Eruku.

The quick response from local law enforcement and vigilante collaborators forced the assailants to flee into the bush, authorities said. The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, praised the swift response and assured residents that operations to track down the perpetrators are ongoing.

This attack has rekindled fears of escalating insecurity in the region. Eruku, a border community along the corridor linking Kogi, Kwara, and Ekiti states, has experienced repeated violent incidents attributed to armed groups exploiting the area’s porous terrain and bush routes for movement.

Community elder Julius Olukoya described the situation as dire, stating, “Eruku has been under siege for months. Our farms are unsafe. Now they have entered our church, killed three, and abducted over a dozen worshippers.” Some reports state that up to 15 worshippers, including the church pastor, have been kidnapped during the assault.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack in a statement, describing it as unconscionable and calling for intensified security deployment to prevent further violence. The Governor expressed sympathies with the victims’ families and the entire Eruku community, assuring that the government would not tolerate such criminal acts and is committed to securing lives and property throughout Kwara State. He also called for immediate reinforcement of security operatives in the affected area.

Residents and local groups have staged protests and road blockades, demanding stronger government action against the escalating terrorist threats that have made Eruku and surrounding communities soft targets for bandits and extremists.

The brutal incident highlights the growing challenge of banditry and religiously motivated violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region, where places of worship have increasingly become targets. Security experts advocate for enhanced military and intelligence support, including possible collaborations with external forces, to effectively counter the militant groups operating in these territories.

As the community grapples with fear and grief, the authorities continue efforts to rescue abducted worshippers and bring the attackers to justice. Meanwhile, local vigilantes remain on high alert as residents await reinforced security measures and long-term solutions to restore peace in this troubled corridor.