Suspected terrorists on Saturday night attacked a church vigil at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran village in Kwara State, killing three worshippers and abducting 15 others during the violent invasion.
The attack reportedly occurred around 8:30 p.m. while members of the church were observing a night vigil, throwing the surrounding communities into panic as residents fled in different directions following heavy gunfire.
Sources within the area said the attackers stormed the prayer ground in large numbers before whisking several worshippers away through nearby forest routes.
A resident who spoke anonymously described the confusion that followed the incident, saying many villagers spent the entire night searching for missing family members and loved ones.
“People were running in different directions because of the gunshots. Some families could not even find their relatives until this morning,” the source said.
Confirming the attack on Sunday, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, strongly condemned what she described as a gruesome and barbaric assault on innocent worshippers.
According to the police statement, the incident was reported by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaiye Ati Igbala, located in Ekerin village within Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
“The incident was reported on 24th May, 2026, by one Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaiye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, Ekiti LGA Kwara State, who stated that while conducting a night vigil alongside members of his congregation at Ori-Oke Ijaye via Ekerin village, on 23rd May, 2026, at about 2030hrs, armed hoodlums invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically, killing three persons while abducting fifteen others to an unknown destination,” the statement read.
The police disclosed that officers from the Ekiti Division were immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving distress reports from the community.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ojo Adekimi, has reportedly ordered a full-scale tactical and intelligence-led operation involving the Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, intelligence units and other security assets to rescue the abducted victims and track down the attackers.
The police chief described the attack as “barbaric, callous, and unacceptable,” while assuring affected families that security agencies remain committed to rescuing the kidnapped worshippers and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Authorities also said coordinated bush-combing operations, surveillance missions and intelligence gathering are ongoing across affected areas as security operatives intensify efforts to locate the kidnappers.
Residents of the local government area were urged to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in ongoing rescue operations.
What You Should Know
Kwara State has in recent years witnessed growing security concerns linked to armed banditry and kidnapping activities, particularly in border communities and rural areas surrounded by forests.
Security experts have repeatedly warned about the increasing movement of armed groups from neighbouring North-Central and North-West regions into isolated settlements. Attacks targeting religious gatherings, commuters and farming communities have heightened fears among residents.
The latest church vigil attack has again raised concerns over the vulnerability of remote worship centres and villages, especially during night activities where security presence is often limited and response time remains a challenge.
