Nollywood actress Bukola Arugba has publicly challenged the official narrative surrounding the recent attack on a church in Kwara State, revealing that three of her relatives were among those abducted during the violent incident.
Contradictory Accounts Emerge
The controversy began when a statement attributed to Kwara State First Lady, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, described the assault on Christ Apostolic Church in Oke Isegun, Eruku community as merely an attempted attack. However, visual evidence and eyewitness accounts tell a different story entirely.
A now-viral video that surfaced on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 captured the terrifying moment when armed men stormed the church during service, sending worshippers fleeing as gunshots echoed through the sanctuary.
Personal Tragedy for Actress
In an emotional Instagram post, Arugba directly contradicted the First Lady's account, stating that the attack was not only successful but had personally affected her family. Three of her relatives were confirmed abducted during the assault that left multiple people dead.
The actress identified her abducted family members as Titi Balogun, her mother's younger sister, and Ebenezer Aina, her cousin's son. She further revealed that several other cousins remain missing, indicating the attack's devastating impact on her extended family.
"Presently, three to four of my cousins are in the bandits' den," Arugba disclosed. "Everyone is crying in my town now because we don't know if they will be found dead or alive."
Accusations of Official Misinformation
The actress strongly criticized the authorities for what she described as a misleading account of the incident. She emphasized that her information came directly from residents and family members in Eruku, giving her firsthand knowledge of the actual events.
"I read a press release on the Kwara First Lady's page regarding the bandit attack in my home, Eruku... which totally contradicts the sad truth," Arugba stated. "The information you got from the Kwara state police is false."
She specifically noted that the church was streaming live when the attackers stormed the premises, providing additional evidence that contradicted the "attempted attack" characterization.
The actress maintained that the assault resulted in multiple casualties and abductions, directly challenging the official narrative that downplayed the severity of the incident.
Growing Security Concerns
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges facing communities in Kwara State and across Nigeria. The attack on a place of worship during service hours has raised serious concerns about the safety of religious gatherings and the effectiveness of security measures in vulnerable areas.
As of now, neither the Kwara State Government nor the police have issued updated statements addressing the discrepancies between official accounts and the testimony provided by Arugba and other community members.
The situation in Eruku remains tense as families await news about their missing loved ones, while the conflicting narratives have sparked broader discussions about transparency in reporting security incidents across Nigeria.
