- Armed men invaded a Kwara church, killing worshippers and kidnapping several members.
- The attackers fled through nearby bush paths after the Kwara church attack.
- Police confirmed the assault and recovered two bodies, with a vigilante injured.
- One abducted Kebbi schoolgirl escaped from captivity hours after the mass kidnap.
Eruku town was thrown into confusion when masked gunmen stormed a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, during an evening service. Witnesses said the attackers opened fire immediately, killing about five worshippers on the spot before forcing several others, including the pastor, into the bush as hostages.
A viral video confirmed the invasion, showing frightened worshippers scrambling for safety as the gunmen carried out the assault. Residents said the attack has deepened fears in the Eruku–Egbe axis, which has recorded several violent incidents in recent weeks.
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The state police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said officers and local vigilantes rushed toward the sound of gunfire around 6 p.m., forcing the attackers to flee. After combing the surrounding areas, police recovered the body of Mr. Aderemi inside the church, while another victim, Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found dead in the bushes. A vigilante member, Segun Alaja, suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Kwara police commissioner Adekimi Ojo praised the swift response of security operatives and vowed that the perpetrators would be hunted down.
Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, a glimmer of relief emerged after one of the 25 abducted schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, escaped captivity and returned home. The bandits had earlier killed a staff member during the Monday night raid before moving the students into the surrounding forests.
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The school principal, Musa Rabi Magaji, confirmed that the girl found her way home late Monday, offering a slight measure of comfort to distraught families. Magaji also noted that another student, who was not on the official list of abducted children, managed to flee during the chaos.
Security forces have since intensified search-and-rescue operations as concerns rise over the renewed wave of school kidnappings in the region.
