Police confirm bandits’ attack on Kwara Church

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed a deadly bandits’ attack on a church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, where at least three people were killed and about ten worshippers abducted during an evening service on Tuesday.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, on Okeado Street.

In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi, the police described the incident as “an attempted bandit attack,” noting that operatives and vigilantes responded swiftly after gunshots were heard on the outskirts of the community.

According to the statement, operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer in Eruku moved to the area, forcing the attackers 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 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,” the police said.

Community sources, however, told Vanguard that three people were killed, with a young girl also battling a severe gunshot wound. The spokesperson for the Eruku community, Olasukanmi Ayeni, said no fewer than ten worshippers were abducted from inside the church and warned that the number could be higher.

Ayeni noted that bandits had made repeated attempts in recent weeks to enter the community through the Eruku–Egbe and Eruku–Omu-Aran routes, but were previously repelled by local hunters and vigilantes.

He alleged that several distress calls to state and local government authorities during earlier incursions went unanswered and expressed disappointment that the local government chairman had yet to visit the community as of Wednesday morning.

Ayeni, however, commended the local police for working closely with hunters and vigilantes to defend the area.

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.

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