Police Confirm Bandits Kill Two, Injure One in Eruku Church Attack

Kwara State has once again been rocked by violence as suspected bandits killed at least two people and injured one during attacks in Eruku, a boundary town in the Ekiti Local Government Area.

A parish of the Christ Apostolic Church was among the locations targeted. According to the police, a worshipper was shot dead inside the church, while another victim’s body was discovered in the bush.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the attacks in a statement.

“The Kwara State Police Command confirms an attempted bandit attack in Eruku, which occurred at about 18:00 hours on 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.

It added, “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.”

Commanding Police Officer, CP Adekimi Ojo, commended the prompt response of the police and vigilantes and assured the public that security agencies would not relent until the perpetrators were neutralised.

Patriotic Insights News reported that the first attack occurred during a special service at the Christ Apostolic Church, where gunmen opened fire on worshippers before abducting the pastor and an unspecified number of congregants.

An eyewitness 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.”

The attackers reportedly launched a second assault along the Ilorin–Kabba Road, forcing travellers to abandon their vehicles and flee into nearby bushes.

One traveller, returning from Niger State, said in a voice note obtained by Patriotic Insights News, “They came around 6:30 pm and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken; they are still shooting—you can hear it.”

Mr. Benjamin Ayeoribe, a local resident, lamented, “We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day…We need federal help. These attacks are becoming too much for us to bear. We are pleading with the President to intervene urgently.”

Despite combined efforts from vigilantes, local hunters, and police, the attackers continue to exploit the porous border region. Kwara State has experienced a worrying rise in banditry, killings, and kidnappings for ransom in recent months, with border communities bearing the brunt of the violence.