Kwara: Bandits Abduct 8 Worshippers At ECWA Church

Armed bandits on Sunday abducted eight worshippers at Evangelical Church or West Africa (ECWA) Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the bandits attacked the church during Sunday service, shooting sporadically to scare the congregation.

A source, however, said that three of the abducted people later escaped from their abductors.

The state commissioner for communications, Bolanle Olukoju, confirmed the attack on the church and the abduction of worshippers in a statement.

She tasked security forces and local vigilantes to ensure that the bandits that carried out the attack on the innocent church worshippers are arrested.

“The government commended the security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes for the proactive response to the incident and the rescue of three of the eight victims of the abduction.

“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 arrest of the perpetrators.

“The government also commended the security forces, forest guards, and vigilantes for the appreciable progress made in their combing of the forests, which has largely curtailed the activities of the criminals in the areas.

“The government again assured the people of its continuous commitment to work with security forces and community stakeholders to protect lives and property,” the commissioner added.

The coordinator of the Kwara South Joint Security Watch, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, had on Saturday raised an alarm over plan by terrorists to attack Irepodun, Ifelodun and Isin local government areas of the state.

He warned residents of the areas about the potential threat and urged them to cooperate with security agencies.