An evening meeting at a Christ Apostolic Church congregation in Eruku, Kwara state, ended in tragedy on Tuesday when armed men stormed the grounds, killing three worshippers and abducting several others, including the pastor.
The attack took place shortly after the meeting began. Witnesses said the gunmen entered the church compound firing into the air, sending worshippers running in all directions. Those unable to escape were seized at gunpoint and forced along narrow forest paths that link Eruku to neighbouring villages.
Residents reported that the attackers moved with precision, taking bush routes known to be used by armed groups operating between Ekiti, Oke-Ero and communities bordering Kogi state. Their arrival had been preceded by warnings from travellers who said they had seen armed men entering Eruku along one of the main access roads. As the gunmen approached, shots were heard, prompting motorists and locals to abandon their vehicles and flee into nearby farmland. One traveller, hiding as the attack unfolded, recorded the sound of gunfire while calling for help.
Shops remained shut for hours afterwards, and many households stayed indoors awaiting updates. As of the latest reports, neither the Kwara State Police Command nor the state government has issued a public statement. Families continue to search for missing relatives, and the number of abducted church members has not yet been confirmed.
The assault in Eruku is the latest in a series of violent incidents reported across Kwara in recent weeks, particularly in rural communities linked by forest corridors. Local sources say the presence of unidentified armed groups has increased over the past week, with the abduction of a pastor and church members marking one of the most serious incidents recorded this month.
In Taraba state, residents of Amadu community took to the streets on Tuesday following the killing of five people on Monday night in an attack blamed on armed Fulani militants. Demonstrators blocked major roads, demanding greater security and an inquiry into a wave of violence that has left 27 people dead in less than two weeks. Several homes were destroyed in the latest assault, and livestock belonging to local farmers was taken.
Protesters carried placards and marched through the community, calling for regular patrols and faster responses to distress calls. A youth leader said residents now face attacks almost weekly. Many families have left their homes and are sheltering in nearby towns until they receive assurances of safety.
Locals described a familiar pattern: attackers using farmland routes and isolated settlements under the cover of darkness. Vigilante groups attempted to confront the assailants during the latest incident but were outnumbered. Victims of the recent violence include farmers, traders and children caught in raids on remote hamlets.
The incidents in Kwara and Taraba reflect a wider escalation in violence across the Middle Belt, where Christian rural communities have been frequently targeted. Armed groups often use forested terrain for cover, and similar attacks have been reported in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna in recent months. Churches, community meetings and farmland have repeatedly been struck, forcing families to flee to church compounds or neighbouring towns.
Security analysts note that attacks often increase toward the end of the year, when communities are finishing their harvests. These disruptions have deepened economic pressure in rural areas already affected by displacement. Towns hosting fleeing families are struggling to provide food, shelter and other essentials.
Officials in both Kwara and Taraba have not issued formal statements on the latest attacks. Security agencies have yet to confirm the number of abducted victims from the Eruku church, while local search parties continue combing forest tracks around the town. In Taraba, residents are still counting the dead and assessing damage to property.
Humanitarian groups warn that needs are rising rapidly as more people flee rural settlements. Access to established displacement camps remains limited, leaving churches and local community centres to serve as makeshift shelters.
With 27 people killed around Amadu in under two weeks, community leaders say they will continue peaceful protests until authorities show stronger coordination with local security structures. In Kwara, families are still searching for those taken from the church, waiting for any word from officials. The security situation in both states remains highly unstable as communities brace for further violence.
Adapted from ICC.
