At least three worshippers have been killed and 15 others abducted in a remote prayer ground attack by armed bandits believed to be terrorists in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The attack was carried out Friday night at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in the southern part of the state.
The incident occurred during a night vigil and sent the normally peaceful agrarian community into panic as residents fled for safety.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the gunmen stormed the prayer gathering at about 8:30 pm and opened fire on the worshippers.
Reports said the attackers sporadically shot and whisked some of the victims into the bush.
Residents said the armed men stormed the secluded prayer camp where the worshippers were attending a night prayer session.
The attack came so suddenly that some of the vigil-goers ran in different directions and others were caught by the assailants.
The names of the victims who died had not been officially released as of the time of filing this report.
“Ekiti, Ikiran Village and other surrounding communities are gripped with fear after the attack,” local sources said.
Some residents appealed to the government and security agencies to intensify surveillance around isolated worship centres, farming settlements and border communities in the area.
They said the prayer ground’s location made it vulnerable especially as it is situated at the outskirts of the village.
Security operatives were said to have been deployed to the area shortly after the incident while search efforts were extended into the nearby forests in a bid to locate the abducted worshippers.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday, saying one Pastor Adebayo Abiodun reported the attack.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, had ordered the deployment of tactical and intelligence teams to the area.
The rescue operation involved operatives of the Police Mobile Force, intelligence teams, the Police Drone Unit and other security personnel, she said.
The command directed the teams to comb the forests around the area and ensure safe rescue of the abducted victims.
The deployment of tactical assets, including drones and intelligence personnel, was part of a coordinated operation to locate the abductors and prevent further attacks in the area, it said.
The attack was “barbaric, callous and unacceptable,” police said, and rescue efforts were continuing to free the abducted worshippers and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The incident was reported on the 24th of May, 2026 by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaiye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State who said while conducting a night vigil with members of his congregation at Ori-Oke Ijaye via Ekerin village on the 23rd of May, 2026 at about 2030hrs, armed hoodlums invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically, killing three persons and abducted fifteen others to an unknown destination.
“Upon receiving the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiti Division, mobilised operatives to the scene.
The statement said that the state Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, had ordered a full tactical and intelligence-led operation involving the Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, intelligence units and other operational assets for a coordinated rescue mission.
The command also implored residents to remain calm and give useful information to help security agencies in the manhunt for the gunmen.
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