By James
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Gunmen suspected to be terrorists on Sunday abducted several worshippers during a church service in Kwara State, further fueling fresh fears over insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central region.
Meanwhile security operatives managed to rescue three victims in a swift counter-operation.
The attack occurred at an ECWA church in Omugo community, located in Ifelodun Local Government Area.
According to local sources, the assailants stormed the church while service was ongoing, sending congregants into panic before forcefully taking nine worshippers into a nearby forest.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that some members of the congregation managed to escape and quickly raised the alarm, prompting a rapid response from a joint security team, comprising police officers, soldiers, and local forest guards.
The coordinated pursuit reportedly led to the rescue of three of the abducted victims, while efforts continue to track down the fleeing attackers and secure the release of the remaining captives.
A source within the Kwara South Joint Security Watch, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the incident and expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The source noted that the targeted church is situated less than two kilometres from a military base, raising troubling questions about how such a brazen operation could occur so close to a security installation.
“We had prior intelligence suggesting a possible attack in the area,” the source revealed. “Given the proximity of the church to a military formation, one would have expected heightened vigilance. It raises serious concerns, especially as these criminals often move quickly to demand ransom.”
Kwara State, traditionally considered one of Nigeria’s more peaceful states, has in recent times witnessed a gradual rise in security threats, particularly in its southern axis. Communities in Ifelodun, Oke Ero, and Ekiti Local Government Areas have reported increased cases of kidnappings, bandit incursions, and violent attacks linked to armed groups exploiting forested terrains.
Security analysts attribute this shift to the spillover of criminal activities from neighbouring states, such as Kogi and Niger, where armed banditry and insurgent movements have taken deeper root. The porous nature of inter-state boundaries and the vast, under-policed forest reserves have made rural communities especially vulnerable.
Churches and other places of worship have increasingly become soft targets due to their predictable gathering times and limited security presence. Similar incidents across the country have heightened concerns about the safety of religious gatherings and the broader implications for communal stability.
Residents of Omugo and neighbouring communities remain on edge, with many calling for increased military presence and proactive intelligence deployment.
The incident adds to growing calls for a more robust and preventive security architecture, particularly in rural areas where response times and surveillance capabilities remain limited.
