Gunmen invade Kwara Church, abduct worshippers during Sunday Service

By Toba Ajayi

Gunmen on Sunday attacked a church in Kwara State, abducting eight worshippers during a service in what authorities described as a disturbing assault on a religious centre.

The incident occurred at the Evangelical Church of West Africa in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area, where the attackers reportedly stormed the premises and opened fire to disperse the congregation.

According to the Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, the assailants shot sporadically to create panic before taking victims away.

She disclosed that three of the abducted worshippers managed to escape from their captors, while five others remain in captivity.

“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,” Olukoju said.

She condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act, and called on security agencies and community groups to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident, noting that a joint operation involving police and military personnel is underway to rescue the remaining victims and track down the perpetrators.

He revealed that most of the victims are elderly, with only two reported to be below 70 years of age.

Security agencies have since intensified patrols in the area as residents express concern over the growing threat of abductions and attacks on vulnerable communities.

The attack adds to rising security challenges in parts of the country, particularly in rural areas where places of worship and communities have increasingly come under threat from armed groups.