By Charles Pemu 
A grave security breach was confirmed in the Kwara State Police Command on Tuesday following a devastating bandit attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in the Eruku community, Ekiti Local Government Area. The assault, which commenced around 6:00 p.m. during the evening service, resulted in the confirmed fatalities of worshippers and the abduction of an unconfirmed number of congregants.
The State Police Command, through spokesperson Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, verified the incident, stating that law enforcement personnel and local vigilantes were immediately deployed upon receiving reports of heavy gunfire.
Police Confirm Fatalities Amid Higher Community Reports
The official police account confirmed that two victims, identified as Mr. Aderemi and Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, were discovered fatally shot within and around the church premises. Furthermore, a vigilante member, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot wounds and was promptly evacuated to ECWA Hospital in Eruku for urgent medical attention.
However, accounts from community sources indicate the casualty figure is significantly higher, with reports claiming three worshippers were killed and alleging that the church pastor may be among those abducted. Additional accounts suggest up to five fatalities from two distinct attacks conducted in the area earlier that same evening.
The severity of the assault was captured in a widely circulated social media livestream from the church, which documented the precise moment the armed criminals struck. The footage reportedly shows congregants engaged in prayer and worship before the sudden eruption of gunfire outside triggered widespread panic. Subsequently, more than five armed men forcefully entered the building, seizing valuables and forcefully removing several people.
Residents emphasize that Eruku, a border community situated near Kogi State, has experienced recurrent bandit raids over recent weeks, with community leader Benjamin Ayeoribe lamenting the lack of meaningful action despite numerous distress calls. He stated that the area has been subjected to “perpetual attacks.”
While the Police Command characterized the assault as an “attempted bandit attack,” it affirmed that stability has been restored and that comprehensive investigation protocols remain in effect. As of the time of this publication, the Kwara State Government has not released an official statement regarding the tragic loss of life and abductions.