Dhaka: Gunmen on Tuesday killed two people in an attack on a church in western Nigeria, the attack adds to the ongoing insecurity in the country, which has been plagued by various forms of violence.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the attack occurred in the town of Eruku, located in Kwara state, on Tuesday evening. It was captured on a church camera during a service. The video shows the service being interrupted by gunfire, with children heard screaming outside. An armed man is seen chasing worshippers while others steal their belongings.
Eruku police, in collaboration with local vigilantes, responded swiftly to the gunfire emanating from the outskirts of the town, forcing the assailants to flee into the bush, as per a statement from the Kwara state police. A thorough search revealed one male victim, Mr. Aderemi, fatally shot inside the Christ Apostolic Church, while another victim, Mr. Tunde Asaba Ajayi, was found deceased in the bush. Another man wounded in the attack was rushed to the hospital.
Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called for the immediate deployment of additional security operatives to bolster the existing security framework in the area, according to a statement by his chief press secretary on Wednesday morning. The state has experienced a series of bandit attacks in recent months, leading Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in October to deploy military personnel to eliminate gang bases within the state's forests.