Eight worshippers were abducted on Sunday after gunmen attacked the Evangelical Church of West Africa in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
According to NAN, Bolanle Olukoju, commissioner for communications, said in a statement that the suspected bandits stormed the church premises and fired sporadically during the service to frighten the congregation.
Olukoju said three of the abducted victims later escaped from their captors, while five others remain in captivity.
She appealed to security agencies and local vigilantes to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“The government commends the security agencies, forest guards and local vigilantes for their proactive response to the incident and the rescue of three of the eight victims,” the commissioner said.
“The government condemns the cowardly targeting of religious centres under any guise.”
Also confirming the incident, Adekimi Ojo, commissioner of police in Kwara, said a rescue operation is ongoing, with joint patrols of police and military personnel pursuing the attackers.
He added that only two of the kidnapped victims were below 70 years of age, noting that the remaining victims are elderly.
As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether the kidnappers have contacted the church to demand ransom.