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Gunmen stormed a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, during an evening worship service on Tuesday, shooting congregants and kidnapping the pastor along with several worshippers. The attack, which struck shortly after 6 p.m. local time, left at least two people dead and others injured, according to early police findings.
The church, located in a rural border community between Kwara and Kogi states in central Nigeria, was holding a regular service when the armed men forced their way in. The assault comes less than 48 hours after 25 schoolgirls were abducted from a government boarding school in Kebbi State and at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly warned Nigeria over repeated attacks on Christian communities. The incident has sharpened questions about how the government is handling bandit violence and what protection ordinary worshippers can expect.
Map showing Kwara State in central Nigeria and the border town of Eruku, where gunmen attacked a church during an evening service.
Worshippers had been mid-service when the sound of distant gunfire began to filter into the building. Moments later, the shots grew louder and panic spread, with people rushing for doors and diving for cover as several armed men forced their way inside.
Video from a church livestream, shared locally after the attack, shows the sudden disruption of the service as gunshots ring out and the camera shakes before cutting off. Residents say the attackers were heavily armed and moved quickly through the church, seizing bags, phones, and other belongings.
Police later confirmed that at least two victims were found fatally shot—one inside the church and another in nearby bushland—while several others, including a local vigilante, were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. The pastor and an unconfirmed number of congregants were forced from the building and marched into the surrounding bush, with families still waiting for news of their whereabouts.
Eruku sits on a key rural route near the Kwara–Kogi border, an area where residents say bandit activity has intensified in recent weeks. Local leaders report that attempted kidnappings, roadside ambushes, and raids on small settlements have increased, leaving many people afraid to travel after dark or attend evening events.
Community figures have repeatedly appealed for more security patrols, arguing that the town’s position near a state border makes it vulnerable to gangs that can slip across jurisdictions. Tuesday’s church attack has deepened those fears, with residents pointing to the Kebbi schoolgirl abduction and other recent incidents as signs of a wider pattern of insecurity stretching across northern and central Nigeria.
On the international stage, the Eruku assault lands at a sensitive moment. Trump’s recent comments on the treatment of Christians in Nigeria have drawn global attention back to the country’s security record, adding diplomatic pressure to the domestic outrage already building over repeated attacks on schools, villages, and places of worship.
When an armed group attacks a church, kills worshippers, and kidnaps congregants, several serious offences are typically involved under Nigerian criminal law. These can include kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and culpable homicide. The exact charges depend on the evidence gathered, the number of victims, and whether links to organised criminal or terrorist groups are established.
The process usually begins with a formal investigation by the state police command. Officers collect physical evidence from the scene, record statements from survivors and witnesses, and work to establish how the attackers arrived, how they escaped, and who may have supported them. If the incident crosses state lines or is linked to recognised terrorist organisations, federal agencies can become involved.
Evidence is central. Items such as recovered shell casings, the church livestream footage, medical reports, and any communications or ransom demands may later be presented in court. Maintaining a clear chain of custody—how each piece of evidence is collected, stored, and logged—is crucial so that it can be used in a prosecution if suspects are arrested.
This is a general explanation of how the system works in cases like this. Individual investigations can differ depending on the facts and the agencies involved.
Police have confirmed at least two fatalities so far, with investigations continuing to establish the full number of victims and injuries.
The exact figure has not yet been made public. Authorities have confirmed that the pastor and several congregants were taken into the bush, and efforts are ongoing to compile a complete list.
There is no official confirmation of a direct link between the two incidents. However, they occurred within a short time frame and have contributed to growing concern about the spread of bandit attacks across multiple states.
Trump has recently criticised Nigeria’s handling of violence against Christian communities, putting additional international attention on how the government responds to church attacks, mass kidnappings, and other religiously sensitive incidents.
In the coming days, investigators are expected to focus on three main tracks: locating the hostages, identifying the gunmen, and securing evidence strong enough to support future prosecutions. Search operations in the bush around Eruku are likely to continue, with police and local vigilante groups trying to trace the kidnappers’ routes and possible hideouts.
If suspects are arrested, they can face a combination of kidnapping and homicide charges, alongside other offences such as armed robbery or unlawful possession of weapons. Any future court case will depend on whether investigators can connect individuals to the attack through witness testimony, forensic evidence, digital records, or ransom communications.
For residents of Eruku and other rural communities, the key question now is whether this case leads to tangible change—stronger security on the ground, better protection for churches and schools, and visible progress in holding armed groups to account. The way authorities handle the investigation and any eventual trials will shape public trust in the justice system long after the gunfire has faded.
