Armed bandits suspected to be terrorists have attacked a remote prayer ground in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State killing at least three worshippers and abducting 15 others.
The attack took place on Friday night at Ori-Oke Ajaiye on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in the southern part of the state.
The incident, which occurred during a night vigil, threw the quiet agrarian community into panic as residents fled for safety.
Sources familiar with the incident said gunmen attacked the prayer gathering around 8:30 pm and opened fire on the worshippers.
According to reports, the attackers sporadically shot and whisked some of the victims into the bush.
Residents said the armed men invaded the secluded prayer camp where the worshippers were participating in a night prayer session.
The sudden gunfire caused a number of people at the vigil to run in different directions, while others were captured by the attackers.
The names of the victims who died had not been officially released at the time of filing.
“Ekiti, Ikiran Village and other nearby communities are gripped with fear following the attack,” local sources said.
Some residents called on 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 teams were directed by the command to comb the forests around the area and to ensure the 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.
Police described the attack as “barbaric, callous and unacceptable” and said that efforts were ongoing to rescue 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 stated that 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 abducting fifteen others to an unknown destination.
“Immediately after the receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiti Division, mobilised operatives to the scene.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, has 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 statement said.
The command also called on residents to remain calm and give useful information that could help security agencies track the gunmen.
