Live Stream Turns to Horror as Gunmen Open Fire in Nigerian Church Amid Service

Sundaay Service Turns to a Horror Show

A quiet Sunday service in Eruku, Kwara State, turned into a nightmare when armed men burst into the Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun branch and opened fire on worshippers. The assault left several people dead and many others kidnapped, drawing condemnation from local leaders and human rights groups who say the attack highlights Nigeria's deepening security crisis.

Gunmen Strike During Live Streamed Service

Witnesses reported that the attackers arrived on motorbikes and forced their way into the church during an evening worship session. The service was being streamed live, and the first rounds of gunfire were captured on camera as worshippers scattered in panic.

Congregants said the armed men fired indiscriminately, killing at least three worshippers. Some reports indicate the death toll may be higher, with local vigilantes confirming additional victims who succumbed to injuries after the assault.

The pastor and several members of the congregation were seized and taken into the nearby forest. Residents said more than a dozen people are feared missing.

Police and Vigilante Response

The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident shortly after it occurred. Officers and local vigilantes mobilized and pursued the attackers into the surrounding bush, but the gunmen escaped deeper into the forest.

Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi said the command has launched a search and rescue operation and assured the public that efforts are ongoing to track down the attackers and free the abducted worshippers.

The state commissioner of police, Adekimi Ojo, described the incident as a tragic assault on the community and vowed that security agencies would intensify operations until those responsible are apprehended.

Community Shock and Outrage

The Eruku community has been grappling with repeated security threats in recent months. Residents say they have recorded several incursions by armed groups believed to be operating around the border areas.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki condemned the attack and called for urgent government action to protect communities in Kwara State. The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) also issued a statement describing the incident as a grave violation of the right to worship safely.

Many locals have expressed fear that churches in remote areas are increasingly becoming soft targets.

What May Have Motivated the Attack

Security analysts believe the attackers may be part of armed bandit groups that have spread across parts of central and northwestern Nigeria. Early reports suggest the gunmen communicated in Fulfulde and operated with a level of coordination that points toward organized criminal cells.

There is growing concern that such groups are expanding their reach and targeting religious gatherings for ransom kidnappings or to spread fear.

A Growing Security Challenge

The attack comes at a time when Nigeria is facing rising insecurity across several regions, including banditry, kidnappings, and communal conflicts. Religious institutions, especially those in isolated locations, have become increasingly vulnerable.

The fact that the assault was captured on a live-streamed service has sparked debate about whether such broadcasts can inadvertently expose congregations to surveillance by criminal groups.

What Happens Next

Authorities have intensified search operations across the forests surrounding Eruku. Community members are urging the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel and to strengthen surveillance in rural places of worship.

Families of kidnapped worshippers are anxiously waiting for news, while the church community mourns those who were killed.

For many residents of Eruku, the attack is a painful reminder that the wave of insecurity sweeping across parts of Nigeria is far from over.

Sources:

The Sun/ AP News