Angry youths from the Eruku community in Kwara State's Ekiti Local Government Area staged a major protest on Wednesday, blocking the crucial Ilorin-Kabba highway. This demonstration was a direct response to a brutal late-night attack by armed bandits on a local church the previous day, which resulted in multiple deaths, injuries, and abductions.
Chaos in the House of Worship
The violent incident unfolded on Tuesday at around 6 pm at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku. According to reports, approximately five armed men stormed the church in the middle of a worship service. Footage from a livestream captured the terrifying moment gunfire erupted, causing the congregation to panic and disperse as the shots intensified before the armed men forced their way into the building.
The assailants ransacked the church, seizing personal belongings from the worshippers. The community reported that five people were killed during the assault. Many others sustained injuries, and an unconfirmed number of congregants, including the church's young pastor, were taken away by the bandits. The attack reportedly lasted for about an hour without any immediate security challenge.
Community Outcry and Official Response
The protest by the Eruku youths caused significant traffic disruption on the Ilorin-Kabba highway, leaving several articulated vehicles destined for neighbouring Kogi State stranded. One of the protesters, Timothy Joshua, revealed the personal toll of the attack, stating that his wife and granddaughter were among those abducted.
A community leader, Benjamin Ayeoribe, expressed the community's desperation, noting that Eruku has suffered repeated attacks in recent weeks. "We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day," he lamented.
In response, the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, visited the town accompanied by the Director of the Department of State Services. He assured residents that additional personnel and an armoured personnel carrier would be deployed to bolster security in the area. The traditional ruler of the town, Oba Busari Arinde Oyediran Olanrewaju, appealed for calm, urging the youths to allow security agencies to carry out their investigations.
Conflicting Accounts and Wider Security Concerns
The Kwara State Police Command provided a slightly different account of the tragedy. The police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed two fatalities and described the event as an "attempted bandit attack." She stated that police operatives, supported by vigilantes, responded, causing the attackers to flee into the bush. One vigilante, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot injuries and was hospitalized.
This attack is part of a disturbing wave of security incidents affecting border communities in Kwara State. It occurred less than two days after bandits abducted 25 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Kebbi State, highlighting the pervasive security challenges in the region.
