Bandits kill three, abduct worshippers during Kwara church service

…as Soldiers takeover community

…Awoniyi, Funke Akindele, Dunsin Oyekan, others react

Rampaging bandits have shot three people dead, while no fewer than ten persons were abducted inside a church in Eruku in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara state on Tuesday in a renewed onslaught.

Spokesperson of Eruku Community, Olasukanmi Ayeni, who confirmed the development in an interview with Vanguard, said the victims were attacked right inside one Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, at Okeado Street around 6pm during service on Tuesday.

Olasunkanmi, who identified the victims as Tunde Asabe, Segun Alaja (as he is popularly called) and one Deremi, added that another girl with a deep gunshot injury on her neck is still lying critically ill at the 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 told Vanguard.

He said that for about four weeks, the bandits have been making desperate attempts to penetrate the community through the Eruku/Egbe and Eruku/Omuaran roads but were successfully rebuffed until Tuesday, when they gained access to the town.

Olasukanmi also said that during the time bandits were making efforts to penetrate the community, several rescue calls made to the state and local government were unanswered.

He noted that the Ekiti local government chairman, Wale Awelewa, who rebuffed several Save Our Soul calls of the community, hadn’t paid a sympathy visit to the community as of Wednesday morning.

Olasukanmi, however, commended the efforts of the local police, which had been assisting the local vigilantes to chase the bandits away from the forests.

According to him, “The police in the community have been doing a fantastic job by following our local hunters to the forests to track the hideout of the bandits and chase them away; otherwise, it would have been a worst-case scenario for us.

“All efforts we made to the state and local government when the bandits were making efforts to penetrate our community, and they were being resisted by our local hunters, were not answered.

“If they had answered us, this attack wouldn’t have happened. As we speak, the local government chairman hasn’t paid any visit to our community; it’s that bad.

“The bandits reinforced; that was why they were able to penetrate our community. I learnt that some of our vigilantes who used to support our local hunters have been taken to Ilorin to be trained as forest guards.”

Meanwhile, the state command of the police confirmed the development in a press statement by the spokesperson, Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi.

The statement reads, “The Kwara State Police Command confirms an attempted bandit attack in Eruku, which occurred at about 18:00 hours today, 18th November, 2025.

“The DPO Eruku and his team of police operatives, in collaboration with vigilantes, swiftly responded to the sound of gunshots emanating from the outskirts of the town, prompting the hoodlums to flee into the bush.

“Upon thorough search of the area, one male victim, Mr Aderemi, was discovered fatally shot inside the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, while another victim of a fatal gunshot, Mr Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found in the bush. A vigilante, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot injuries and was immediately rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku, for medical treatment.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, praised the swift response of officers and vigilantes and assured residents that the command will not relent until the attackers are apprehended.

Security operations continued on Wednesday as joint teams combed the surrounding forests in search of the fleeing bandits and abducted victims.

In another development, following the video of the bandits’ attack on worshippers at CAC Church Oke-Isegun in Eruku on Tuesday, during which three people were killed and some of the worshippers were abducted,the military has taken over the troubled community.

Community Spokesman, Ayeni Olanipekun, who confirmed the development, said the state Commissioner of Police Ojo Adekimi was also in Eruku with his team.

“As we speak, the soldiers have taken over Eruku, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ojo Adekimi is also there with his team.

“We learnt that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved their deployment to the community.

“We also learnt that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is also on his way to Eruku with his team.’

On efforts to rescue the victims,he said that several of the local hunters deployed to search the forests have not returned, stressing that efforts are ongoing.

Meanwhile effort to speak with Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi about the update at press time proved abortive as he didn’t receive call to his cell phone.

In the video that went viral the bandits were seen in a staccato shooting inside the church ,while the worshippers both aged and young were seen trying to run for cover right inside the church.

In the video the worshippers were also seen being pursued into smaller rooms inside the church while other bandits were also seen packing handbags the worshippers abandoned on the seats.

In same vein, Nigerians, including Funke Akindele, Dunsin Oyekan and Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi, have expressed outrage after terrorists stormed a church in Kwara State during a livestreamed service, killing three worshippers and abducting several others.

Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi also reacted, describing Kwara as traditionally one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states. He urged residents to remain calm and hopeful. “The state of Harmony is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, reflecting the peaceful coexistence among one another with different religions and beliefs. Peace shall reign,” he posted on Instagram on Tuesday.

“Kwara State stands for peace and that’s what will stand for Nigeria.”

Recall Vanguard reported earlier that no fewer than ten persons were abducted inside a church in Eruku in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara state on Tuesday in a renewed onslaught.

Spokesperson of Eruku Community, Olasukanmi Ayeni, who confirmed the development in an interview with Vanguard, said the victims were attacked right inside one Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, at Okeado Street around 6pm during service on Tuesday.

Reacting in a post on X on Wednesday, gospel singer Dunsin Oyekan posted a cryptic message expressing disbelief at the worsening insecurity, writing, “And we have a government oooo… Haba! This is too much…”

Actress and producer Funke Akindele, in a post on X, said she was heartbroken by the scenes she watched online. “Woke up to see a livestream video of people being attacked inside a church in Kwara. This is sad and disturbing. I wept seeing that old woman who couldn’t walk well running for safety,” she posted.

In another post she wrote, “They are harmless citizens for God’s sake!!! I’m so weak. Chai”

Comedian Ayo Makun (AY) also joined the chorus of criticism, saying the country is “turning into a crime scene.” He pointed to the recent killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba and attacks on schools and churches as evidence of a nation slipping into chaos.

“Every day brings chaos yet the government remains silent. How did we get here? and must outsiders come to fix what our leaders refuse to confront?

“We need safety, accountability and real action, not silence,” he said.

Skit maker and activist Mr Macaroni blamed the attack on what he called the insensitivity of those in power. In his statement, he said Nigerians were waking up to “yet another terrorist attack” under a “tone deaf” leadership. “A callous and irresponsible Government… whose sycophancy and deception have made this country unbearable for the people,” he wrote on X.