The pastor of a Kwara church attacked by armed bandits has described how gunmen stormed the worship centre, killing three people and abducting around 35 members of the congregation.
Pastor Abiodun Bamidele of Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, spoke to journalists in the Eruku community of Ekiti Local Government Area, where the incident occurred. He said the attackers struck during a Thanksgiving service on Sunday.
“There was an incident when the bandits came, and they kidnapped almost 30 to 35 members of the church,” Bamidele recounted.
The pastor explained that the service had been organized to celebrate the safe rescue of 18 worshippers who were kidnapped in the same community three weeks earlier.
“We were doing a Thanksgiving service for the 18 people that were kidnapped here three weeks ago, and all of them were rescued. That is why we are doing the service to thank God for the rescue of the people,” he said.
The latest attack has deepened fears in the community, which has faced repeated assaults by armed groups targeting worshippers and residents.