Three worshippers were killed and at least ten abducted when gunmen attacked a mid-week church service in Kwara State, western Nigeria, on the evening of 18 November.
Barnabas Aid contacts confirm that the gunmen were Fulani Islamist extremists.
The service at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area, was being livestreamed at the time of the attack. In a video seen by Barnabas, the congregation ran for their lives as gunshots were heard outside and before the terrorists entered the building.
Worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, moments before a terrorist attack that left three dead [Image credit: Sahara Reports/X]
The victims were named as Tunde Asabe, Segun Alaja and Deremi. One worshipper, an unnamed girl, suffered a deep wound to her neck and is in a critical condition.
Olasukanmi Ayeni, a local spokesman, said that the terrorists had been looking to attack the community for several weeks.
Read more: What is happening in Nigeria?
He commended the efforts of police in Eruku but said that requests for help made to the state government prior to the attack had gone unanswered.
Since 2009 at least 45,000 Christians in northern and Middle Belt Nigeria have been killed by Boko Haram, Islamic State and Islamist militia groups made up of extremists from the Muslim-majority Fulani people.
“We cannot keep denying reality and expect peace,” said John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, earlier this month. “The first step toward healing this nation is to tell ourselves the truth and ensure justice for all victims.”
How you can pray
Ask the Lord to comfort our bereaved and traumatised brothers and sisters in Eruku. Pray that those abducted will be released unharmed. Pray for peace and security throughout Nigeria’s troubled northern and Middle Belt regions.
