Tension flared in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Wednesday as outraged youths blocked the Ilorin–Kabba highway to protest a brutal bandit attack on their community.
Armed men had invaded Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, during an evening worship session on Tuesday, killing three people and abducting at least ten others. A young girl hit by a bullet was reported to be in critical condition.
At press time, none of the abducted worshippers had been rescued. Local hunters continued searching the forests surrounding the town.
When Vanguard arrived at about 3:00 p.m., the protest had created a massive gridlock, leaving heavy-duty vehicles headed toward Kogi State stranded for hours.
Residents accused security agencies of responding too slowly despite the attack lasting nearly an hour. One of the protesters, Timothy Joshua whose wife and granddaughter were taken expressed deep anger at what he called a “delayed and inadequate” response from security operatives.
Youth leader, Peter Adesiyan, also criticized the response time, noting that despite the community’s support for local policing, Tuesday’s intervention was far below expectations.
To calm tensions, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, visited Eruku alongside the State Director of the Department of State Services .
Ojo announced the deployment of more personnel and an Armoured Personnel Carrier to reinforce security.
Traditional ruler, Oba Busari Arinde Oyediran Olanrewaju, urged the protesting youths to remain calm and allow investigations to proceed.
Military personnel have now taken control of security in the area following viral videos showing bandits shooting inside the church as worshippers fled in panic.
Community spokesman Ayeni Olanipekun confirmed the military presence and said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was expected to visit the town.
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Another spokesperson, Olasunkanmi Ayeni, said the attackers struck around 6 p.m. while worship was ongoing. He identified the deceased as Tunde Asabe, Segun Alaja a vigilante and a man known as Aderemi.
He added that the number of abducted victims might be higher than initial reports suggested.
Ayeni revealed that bandits had attempted multiple times in recent weeks to infiltrate the community but were repeatedly repelled by hunters and volunteers.
He praised the local police division, noting its officers often joined hunters in patrols, but appealed for stronger support from higher authorities to prevent further attacks.
Police spokesperson Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi confirmed the attack, saying the Divisional Police Officer and his team responded after hearing gunshots from the outskirts of town, forcing the attackers to retreat.
Two victims were found dead one inside the church, the other in the nearby bush while an injured vigilante was rushed to the hospital.
Commissioner Ojo praised the combined efforts of security operatives and local vigilantes, assuring residents that restoring safety in Eruku remains a priority.
