Three K!lled, 15 ∆bducted As Gunmen Att∆ck Kwara Vigil Prayer Ground At Night
Three Killed, 15 Abducted As Gunmen Attack Kwara Vigil Prayer Ground At Night
According to the police, the attack occurred on Friday, May 23, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. while members of a church congregation were holding a vigil prayer session at Ori-Oke Ijaye via Ekerin Village in Ekiti LGA.
The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed a deadly attack by armed criminals on worshippers observing a vigil at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where three persons were killed and 15 others abducted.
The Command, in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, described the incident as gruesome, barbaric, and unacceptable.
According to the police, the attack occurred on Friday, May 23, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. while members of a church congregation were holding a vigil prayer session at Ori-Oke Ijaye via Ekerin Village in Ekiti LGA.
The statement explained that the incident was formally reported to the police on May 24, 2026, by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, who narrated how the armed assailants stormed the prayer ground and opened fire on innocent worshippers.
“The Kwara State Police Command strongly condemns the gruesome attack, killing, and abduction of innocent worshippers by armed criminals at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, located on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State,” the statement read.
It added, “The incident was reported on 24th May, 2026, by one Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, Ekiti LGA Kwara State, who stated that while conducting a night vigil alongside members of his congregation at Ori-Oke Ijaye via Ekerin Village, on 23rd May, 2026, at about 2030hrs, armed hoodlums invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically, killing three persons while abducting fifteen others to an unknown destination.”
The police said operatives attached to the Ekiti Division responded immediately after receiving the distress report.
“Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ekiti Division, immediately mobilised operatives to the scene,” the spokesperson said.
The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, was also said to have ordered an intensive rescue and manhunt operation involving “Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, Intelligence Units, and other operational assets for a coordinated rescue mission”.
The Command further quoted the Commissioner of Police as condemning the attack in strong terms while assuring families of the victims that security agencies were working tirelessly to rescue those abducted and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police describes the attack as barbaric, callous, and unacceptable, assuring the families of the deceased, the injured, and the abducted victims that the Command is fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all victims and the apprehension of the perpetrators behind the heinous act,” the statement said.
The police also assured residents of Ekiti Local Government Area and other parts of the state that coordinated security operations were ongoing across surrounding forests and communities in a bid to track down the attackers.
“The Command wishes to assure residents of Ekiti LGA and the entire State that vigorous efforts are ongoing, including bush combing, intelligence gathering, and coordinated security operations to track down the assailants and bring them to justice,” it added.
The Command appealed to members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid the ongoing operation.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” she added.
