A pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), in Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been confirmed killed along with two worshippers while several others were abducted when armed bandits attacked the church on Tuesday.
The attack occurred during a service, which was being live-streamed, at the Oke Isegun branch of the church in Eruku, a town bordering Kogi State.
In the video, gunshots are heard ringing out as the gunmen invaded the church, forcing the worshippers including old women to scamper for safety as the gunfire intensified. The video footage also showed more than five armed men entering the building and ransacking the premises.
The Kwara State Police Command which confirmed the attack in a statement late Tuesday, however, said the suspected bandits killed at least two people and injured one during the attack.
The statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said: “The Kwara State Police Command confirms an attempted bandit attack in Eruku, which occurred at about 18:00 hours of today, 18th November, 2025.
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“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.
“Police confirmed that a male victim, Mr. Aderemi, was fatally shot inside the church, while another, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found dead in the bush.
“A vigilante, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku, for treatment.
“CP Adekimi Ojo commended the swift response of the police and vigilantes. He also assures the public that security agencies will not relent until these hoodlums are totally decimated.”
An eyewitness who narrated the incident said:
“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.”
He added that the gunmen later launched another assault along the Ilorin–Kabba Road, forcing travellers to abandon their vehicles and flee into nearby bushes.