Two people were killed Tuesday evening when armed men raided the outskirts of Eruku in Kwara State, Nigeria, targeting the Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun parish and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushland, local authorities and eyewitnesses said.
The assault is the latest in a string of violent incidents reported in the border community over the past three weeks, deepening concerns about rising insecurity in the area and renewed pressure on state and federal officials to intervene.
Witnesses told reporters the attackers arrived around nightfall and opened fire without warning. One resident said the strike caused chaos across the community. “They came around nightfall and started shooting. Two people were killed instantly, and we don’t even know how many were taken,” he said.
Another resident said the town had endured repeated raids in recent weeks despite distress calls to authorities. “We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day,” he added.
Read Also: Nigerian Senate: Demand Refund Of ₦210 Trillion From NNPCL
Community members say local vigilantes, police, and the Eruku Progressive Union have been trying to contain the attacks, but many fear the situation is worsening. “We need federal help. These attacks are becoming too much for us to bear,” an elder said.
The Kwara State Police Command said officers responded quickly, pushing the gunmen back and conducting a search of the area. According to the police statement, two victims were found: Mr. Aderemi, who was fatally shot inside the church, and Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, who was discovered dead in the surrounding bush.
The command did not confirm whether any residents had been abducted during the assault.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack and called for additional security deployments. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor urged federal authorities to strengthen the security presence in Eruku and surrounding communities. “The governor has sought immediate deployment of more security operatives to support the existing security architecture in the area,” the statement said.
AbdulRazaq extended condolences to the victims’ families and the church community, saying the state would continue supporting security agencies in efforts to protect lives and property. He also praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent deployment of 900 troops to the state, expressing confidence that the reinforcement would boost deterrence and help restore calm.
The Eruku attack came only days after gunmen stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 26 schoolgirls. According to local officials, two of the students later escaped, while the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, was killed during the raid.
The incidents form part of a broader pattern of banditry and armed violence affecting several northern and central states, according to past reporting from Reuters and other outlets. Security analysts have warned that border communities in particular face heightened risk due to limited patrol coverage and porous routes used by armed groups.
