Gunmen attacked a church and community in Kwara, leaving two dead and one injured.
Glamtush reports that suspected bandits have reportedly killed two people during an attack in Eruku, a boundary town in the Ekiti Local Government Area.
A parish of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, was reportedly attacked by the gunmen.
The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening, when the gunmen stormed the outskirts of the town.
According to eyewitnesses in the community, the attackers stormed the area “suddenly and heavily armed,” forcing many residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
“They came around nightfall and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken,” one resident said.
Another resident lamented that Eruku had been under “perpetual attacks for the last three weeks,” with bandits beating despite several distress calls.
“We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day,” he added.
Community members say the police, vigilantes, and the Eruku Progressive Union have mounted resistance in recent weeks, but the renewed assault has worsened fears of worsening insecurity.
“We need federal help. These attacks are becoming too much for us to bear,” an elder in the community pleaded.
The police said they responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to flee.
“Upon thorough search of the area, one male victim, Mr Aderemi, was discovered fatally shot inside the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun; while one Mr Tunde Asaba Ajayi, another victim of fatal gunshot, 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 Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed in a statement.
Reacting to the incident, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, condemned the attack and called for urgent reinforcement of security in the area.
“The governor has sought immediate deployment of more security operatives to support the existing security architecture in the area,” said his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement.
AbdulRazaq expressed sympathy with the victims’ families and the Christ Apostolic Church community, pledging continued government support for security agencies to safeguard lives and property.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for the recent deployment of 900 additional troops to Kwara State, noting that his administration is “confident that the additional troops will provide further deterrence, overall safety” for Kwara residents and permanent calm.
The attack has heightened concerns over banditry in Kwara’s border communities, with authorities promising stronger measures to restore peace and security.
