An unspecified number of worshippers were reportedly taken after bandits attacked a branch of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at Oke Isegun in the Eruku community, a border town with Kogi in the Ekiti LGA of Kwara state.
A video of the incident, recorded during a live stream and viewed by TheCable, shows the congregation in the middle of a service when bursts of gunfire erupted around the church premises.
Members of the congregation, led by a young pastor, fled for safety as the gunshots grew louder, after which several bandits were seen moving into the church.
More than five armed assailants entered the building, searched through the worship area, and made away with the belongings of the worshippers.
According to The PUNCH, the attackers killed three worshippers and took the pastor along with an undisclosed number of members.
“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 newspaper quoted a witness as saying.
The report also cited a community leader, Benjamin Ayeoribe, who said Eruku has faced repeated bandit attacks over the past three weeks, noting that pleas to authorities have not produced results.
“We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day,” he said.
This incident occurred less than 48 hours after bandits attacked Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi state and abducted 25 schoolgirls.