Armed bandits on Sunday morning attacked an ECWA Church in Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting several worshippers during a church service in an incident that has heightened security concerns in the state.
The assailants were said to have stormed the church premises while the service was ongoing, firing sporadically and causing panic among congregants and residents before whisking away an unspecified number of victims.
However, joint security operatives, including local vigilantes and forest guards, reportedly mounted a swift response, leading to the rescue of three of the abducted worshippers.
A source within the Kwara South Joint Security Watch, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that at least seven persons were initially taken by the attackers, though authorities have yet to confirm the exact number.
Confirming the development, the Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, commended the prompt and coordinated intervention of security agencies, which she said helped to repel the attackers and secure the release of some victims.
“We commend the immediate and coordinated response of the security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes, which led to the rescue of three of the abducted victims and helped to repel the attackers,” she said.
Olukoju added that security agencies had been directed to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining abductees and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“While commending the immediate response of the security forces and other stakeholders, we task them to ensure that the ongoing manhunt leads to the rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of the perpetrators,” she stated.
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The commissioner strongly condemned the attack, describing the targeting of a place of worship as “cowardly and unacceptable,” and reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
“The Kwara State Government strongly condemns the cowardly targeting of a place of worship under any guise, and we reaffirm that such acts of violence have no place in our communities,” she added.
She also called on residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid ongoing operations.
According to Olukoju, intensified forest combing operations in affected areas have already recorded significant progress in curbing criminal activities.
“We also commend the appreciable progress made in the ongoing combing of the forests, which has significantly curtailed the activities of criminal elements across affected areas,” she noted.
The latest attack comes amid rising tension in Kwara State following intelligence reports of planned coordinated assaults across parts of Kwara South.
The Kwara South Joint Security Watch had earlier warned of possible attacks targeting Ifelodun, Irepodun, and Isin local government areas.
Coordinator of the group, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, disclosed that the alert was based on credible intelligence, prompting heightened security measures, including the deployment of military and paramilitary personnel as well as aerial surveillance.
“Yes, it is from the intelligence that we gathered that they are planning to strike, and we don’t want to take anything for granted,” he said, urging residents to stay alert and report suspicious activities.
Authorities have assured that operations are ongoing to track down the attackers and ensure the safe return of those still in captivity.