Horror in Eruku: Gunmen Storm Church During Evening Service
A member of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku community, Kwara State has provided a chilling eyewitness account of the brutal attack that left three people dead and dozens kidnapped. The invasion occurred on Tuesday, November 18, around 6:00 pm during evening worship services.
According to the church member who spoke exclusively to BBC Pidgin, the armed assailants entered the church compound by scaling the fence before launching their violent assault. The attackers immediately began shooting sporadically, creating panic and chaos among the congregation.
Brave Security Guard Killed in Gun Battle
The eyewitness described how the church's security guard demonstrated remarkable bravery by confronting the gunmen directly. The security man engaged the invaders in a firefight but was ultimately overpowered and killed during the exchange of gunfire.
"The security man at the church chased them, shot at them, and they shot back at him. They later killed him," the church member recounted, highlighting the security guard's courageous but fatal attempt to protect the worshippers.
Mass Kidnapping and Church Desecration
The gunmen proceeded to abduct more than 35 worshippers of various ages and genders, including both men and women, young and old. The eyewitness reported seeing bloodstains throughout the church building following the attack, evidence of the violence that transpired.
"The people they kidnapped were more than 35, and there were bloodstains all over inside the church," the CAC member stated. The assailants then marched their captives into the nearby bush, leaving families and the community in distress.
During the invasion, the gunmen also looted personal belongings from worshippers, using bags they had brought specifically for this purpose. The attackers fired teargas canisters, which prevented local hunters from intervening during the crisis.
Community Response and Security Concerns
The eyewitness expressed frustration with the official security response, noting that police officers only arrived the following morning and limited their actions to taking photographs of the crime scene.
"We didn't see any security operatives yesterday, and even the hunters couldn't come because the gunmen fired teargas. Police officers arrived this morning but did nothing; they only took photos at the scene," the church member lamented.
Local hunters have since organized search parties to comb the forests in an effort to locate and rescue the kidnapped church members. The attack has sparked widespread concern about security measures in places of worship across Nigeria.
The Christ Apostolic Church attack in Eruku represents another troubling incident in the growing pattern of violence targeting religious institutions in Nigeria, raising urgent questions about community safety and security agency responsiveness.
