Gunmen have killed three worshippers and abducted 15 others during a late-night attack on a prayer ground in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday at Ori-Oke Ajaiye on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in the Ikerin/Ajuba axis, has thrown surrounding communities into panic, with residents fleeing and families left searching for missing relatives.
Sources told PLATFORM TIMES that the assailants stormed the area in large numbers, opened fire on worshippers holding a night vigil, and whisked several victims away through nearby forest routes.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said confusion trailed the attack as people scampered for safety.
“People were running in different directions because of the gunshots. Some families could not find their relatives until this morning,” the source said.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the attack on Sunday, describing it as gruesome and condemnable.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the incident was reported by the leader of the prayer session, Pastor Adebayo Abiodun, who was conducting a vigil with members of his church when the gunmen struck.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said the attackers invaded the prayer ground and fired sporadically at worshippers.
He confirmed that three persons were killed, while 15 others were abducted and taken to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiti Division, immediately mobilised operatives to the scene,” the CP said.
Ojo added that the command had launched a coordinated rescue operation involving tactical and intelligence units, including the Police Drone Team and PMF personnel, to secure the victims’ release and apprehend the perpetrators.
He assured residents that security agencies had intensified bush combing and surveillance across the area to track down the attackers.
“The command is fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all victims and the arrest of those behind this heinous act,” he said.
The police urged members of the public to remain calm and provide credible information to support ongoing operations.
The latest attack adds to a growing pattern of violence targeting worship centres in Kwara South.
In November 2025, gunmen attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others, who were later rescued.
Similarly, in March 2026, suspected bandits struck an ECWA church in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area, abducting 11 worshippers. While three victims were rescued, eight remain in captivity.
The recurring incidents have heightened fears among residents of rural communities, despite intensified security operations across forested areas of the state.
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