- Safiu Kehinde
At least two people have been confirmed dead with one injured in coordinated attacks by suspected bandits in Eruku, a border town in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara state.
The bandits had reportedly stormed a parish of the Christ Apostolic Church where they opened fire on worshippers during a special service.
As confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Kwara Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the incident occurred around 6pm.
Ejire-Adeyemi disclosed that the Eruku Divisional Police Officer (DPO) had swiftly led his team and vigilante groups in apprehending the bandits who alleged fled into the bush.
“The Kwara State Police Command confirms an attempted bandit attack in Eruku, which occurred at about 18:00 hours of 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,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed that a worshipper, simply identified as Mr. Aderemi, was shot dead inside the church, while the body of another victim, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was later discovered in the bush.
A vigilante member, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku, for treatment.
However, earlier report disclosed that at least three worshippers were killed on the spot, with an eyewitness recounting how the gunmen stormed the church mid-service and began shooting indiscriminately before abducting the pastor and several congregants.
“The gunmen came into the church while people were gathered. They started shooting and three people died immediately. They later rounded up some worshippers, including the pastor, and marched them into the bush,” the eyewitness said.
A now viral livestream video from the church further captured moment members of the congregation heard gunshots and scampred to safety.
Repeated shots were fired as the armed bandits entered the church, carting away the members’ belongings before forcefully opening the door to one of the rooms where some of the members had hidden.
According to The Punch, the assailants reportedly launched another assault along the Ilorin-Kabba Road, forcing travellers to abandon their vehicles and flee into nearby bushes.
A traveller returning from Niger State recounted in a voice note obtained by The PUNCH: “They came around 6:30 p.m. and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken.”