Panic gripped residents of Omugo community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday after armed men stormed a church service and abducted worshippers in a brazen daylight attack.
The incident occurred at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), where gunmen reportedly invaded the premises during worship and opened fire to disperse the congregation before whisking away their victims.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, eight persons were initially taken by the attackers. However, three of the victims later escaped from captivity, leaving five others still in the hands of their abductors.
Confirming the development, the Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said the attackers fired sporadically to create fear and confusion among worshippers.
“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.”
Olukoju called for intensified efforts by security agencies and community-based vigilante groups to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly apprehended and the remaining victims rescued unharmed.
Also confirming the attack, Kwara State Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo disclosed that a coordinated rescue operation was underway, involving joint patrols by the police and the military.
Security sources indicate that the attackers may have retreated into nearby forested areas, a pattern consistent with previous abduction incidents in parts of the North-Central region, where criminal groups exploit difficult terrain to evade arrest.
The police chief further revealed that the majority of those abducted are elderly worshippers, noting that only two of the victims are below the age of 70.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no confirmation on whether the abductors had established contact with the church or the families of the victims regarding ransom demands.
The attack adds to growing concerns over the safety of religious centres across Nigeria, where worshippers have increasingly become soft targets for armed groups.
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