A wave of terror swept through the quiet town of Eruku in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday evening, as armed bandits invaded a church during service, killing three people and abducting several worshippers. The attack, which occurred around 6 p.m., targeted the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, located on Okeado Street.
Residents said the attackers stormed the church while service was ongoing, opening fire on worshippers before whisking away no fewer than ten people. Community sources fear the number of abducted victims may be even higher.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Eruku community, Olasukanmi Ayeni, described the attack as the darkest moment in the town’s recent history. He identified the deceased as Tunde Asabe, a vigilante known as Segun Alaja, and one Deremi. Another young girl, who sustained a deep gunshot wound to the neck, is reportedly in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
Ayeni said the brutality of the attack left the entire congregation in shock. “The people were abducted right inside the church; there are about ten, but it could be more. The three corpses are still inside the church as we speak,” he said.
According to him, the bandits had been attempting to infiltrate the community for nearly a month, using the Eruku/Egbe and Eruku/Omu-Aran routes. Local hunters and vigilantes had previously repelled the attackers, but Tuesday’s invasion marked the first time the intruders gained access to the town.
Ayeni expressed deep frustration over what he described as the government’s silence and lack of support. He said repeated SOS calls to both the state and local governments went unanswered, even as residents fought desperately to protect the town.
“The local government chairman, Wale Awelewa, ignored our distress calls, and up till this morning, he hasn’t visited the community. It’s painful,” Ayeni lamented. He, however, praised the commitment of local police officers who frequently joined hunters in combing the forest for bandits. He added that the situation might have been even worse if not for their efforts.
He also noted that some vigilantes who usually supported the community’s hunters had recently been taken to Ilorin for forest guard training, reducing manpower during a critical period.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement released by its spokesperson, Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi. According to the police, officers and vigilantes immediately responded after hearing gunshots from the town’s outskirts, forcing the attackers to flee into the bush.
During a search of the area, police found a victim, Mr. Aderemi, dead inside the church, while another victim, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was discovered in the nearby bush. A vigilante member, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, commended the rapid response of officers and local vigilantes. He reassured the public that security agencies remain committed to hunting down the attackers and restoring peace in the area.
As Eruku mourns its dead and prays for the safe return of the abducted, residents say they feel abandoned and vulnerable — hoping that authorities will finally take decisive action before more lives are lost.
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