JUST IN: Kwara Church Resumes Worship Days After Terrorist Attack

Worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have resumed service barely days after armed men attacked the church, leaving two people dead, several injured and abducting 38 members.

The attackers had stormed the church on Tuesday during an evening programme, shooting sporadically before forcing dozens of worshippers, including the pastor  into the nearby forest.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, said two bodies were recovered from the scene. She added that security operatives and vigilantes responded swiftly after hearing gunshots from the outskirts of the community, forcing the gunmen to retreat.

A community leader, the Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, whose four family members were among those abducted, said the kidnappers had begun contacting families. He recalled escaping through a window with one of his wards during the attack, noting that the abductors had separated victims based on family ties.

“Some people have received calls demanding ₦100 million for each abducted person. I have not been contacted yet,” he said.

Despite the tension, the church congregation reconvened on Sunday in an act of defiance. In a video circulating online, a pastor encouraged members to hold firmly to their faith, urging them not to succumb to fear.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has linked the attack to rising insecurity along the Kwara–Kogi border. It announced that the Nigerian Army had taken over security in the community.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who visited the scene with security chiefs, assured residents of intensified efforts to rescue the abducted worshippers. Speaking during a meeting with the Christian Association of Nigeria in Ilorin, he said state and federal authorities were working jointly to stabilise the area. “You are not alone,” he told church leaders.

The attack has triggered public outrage. Youths blocked the Kwara–Kogi highway on Wednesday, demanding better protection and a coordinated rescue operation.

Authorities say search teams are tracking the kidnappers’ movements, but stress that the operation is delicate and requires caution.