At least three people were killed and several others kidnapped, including the pastor, when gunmen stormed a branch of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community on Tuesday evening.
The attack came suddenly during a meeting at the church in Oke Isegun, Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Gunmen opened fire on worshippers and forced others into the bush at gunpoint.
One eyewitness told reporters:
“The gunmen came in suddenly and started shooting. Three people were killed instantly. They gathered others at gunpoint and marched them into the bush. We still don’t know the exact number taken.”
Another resident echoed the fear gripping the community:
“They came in the evening and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken.”
The attackers reportedly slipped into the community via bush-paths linking Eruku to neighbouring settlements, triggering mass panic and a scramble for safety. Vehicles were abandoned on the road as people fled into the bush. A traveller who narrowly escaped described the scene:
“This is 18-11-2025. On my way coming back from the Federal Poly, Bida, Niger State, we were coming through Ilorin road when they started shooting. Everybody has scattered into the bush.” While one account reports three killed, another states two fatalities. The Nigerian Tribune reports:
“Gunmen killed two persons in an attack on the Eruku community … The armed gang attacked worshippers … killed one person, and abducted some others.”
The contradictory figures may reflect the chaotic nature of the incident, but one element remains clear: abductions. Both reports point to an unspecified number of people taken, including church leadership.
Community under siege
Eruku residents say their community has endured repeated attacks in recent weeks. One lamented that despite pleas to local and state authorities, “nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day.”
According to the Nigerian Tribune, escalating vigilance efforts involving the police, vigilante groups and the Eruku Progressive Union had at times kept the attackers at bay. But the “renewed assault has heightened fear among the people.”
At the time of writing, the Kwara State Police Command and the state government had yet to issue a formal public reaction.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the attack and said the DPO and his team, along with vigilantes, responded quickly to the sound of gunshots.
