Gunmen attack a Kwara church, abducting worshipers as security forces rescue three people

Suspected bandits on Sunday stormed a church in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of ​​Kwara State, abducting several worshipers during the service and triggering panic across the area.

The attackers reportedly stormed the ECWA Church as congregants were gathering for weekly worship, taking many victims before security officials could react. However, a joint team of security forces then rescued the three kidnapped people.

A source at the Kwara South Joint Security Watch, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the scale of the attack was significant. “At least seven people were kidnapped,” the source said, although further details were not immediately available.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, commended the quick response of security agencies and local support groups, noting that their intervention helped contain the situation.

“We applaud the quick and coordinated response of security forces, forest guards and local residents, who succeeded in rescuing the three abductees and helping to repel the attackers,” he said.

Olukoju added that authorities had intensified efforts to trace the perpetrators and secure the release of those still held hostage. “While commending the swift response of security forces and other stakeholders, we task them to ensure that the ongoing manhunt leads to the rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of the perpetrators,” he said.

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Condemning the attack, the commissioner described the targeting of places of worship as unacceptable. “The Kwara State Government strongly condemns this cowardly act of targeting places of worship under any guise, and we reiterate that such acts of violence have no place in our community,” he added.

He also urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies to reduce the increasing threat. “We call on community members to continue working with security agencies, forest rangers and local residents to end this threat and protect our communities,” the statement said.

According to Olukoju, the ongoing security operations in the forest area have started to bear fruit. “We also commend the substantial progress made in ongoing forest combing, which has significantly curtailed the activities of criminal elements in the affected areas,” he said.

The incident comes amid growing security concerns in Kwara South following intelligence reports of possible coordinated attacks in parts of the region, including Ifelodun, Irepodun and Isin local government areas.

South Kwara Joint Security Watch Coordinator, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, previously warned residents not to lower their guard. “Yes, based on the intelligence we gathered, they were planning an attack, and we don’t want to take anything for granted,” he said.

He added that security reinforcements, including military and paramilitary personnel supported by aerial surveillance, had been deployed to prevent further attacks, while urging citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious movements.