Gunmen on Sunday attacked Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) Church, Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state, abducting eight members of the congregation.
It was gathered that the suspected bandits attacked the church during Sunday service, shooting sporadically to scare the congregation.
It was also learnt that three of the abducted persons later escaped from their abductors, while five are still with them.
The incident was confirmed to journalists by the state government, through the state Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, who urged security forces and local hunters to ensure that the bandits are apprehended.
“The government commended the security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes for the proactive response to the incident and the rescue of three of the eight victims of the abduction.
“The government condemned the cowardly targeting of religious places under any guise,” Olukoju said.
In a statement on Sunday, the state government urged the security forces, forest guards, local hunters, and community members to continue to work together to end the menace.
“While commending the immediate response of the security forces and other stakeholders, we task them to ensure that the ongoing manhunt leads to the rescue of the remaining victims and arrest of the perpetrators.
“The government also commended the security forces, forest guards, and vigilantes for the appreciable progress made in their combing of the forests, which has largely curtailed the activities of the criminals in the areas.
“The government again assured the people of its continuous commitment to work with security forces and community stakeholders to protect lives and property,” the statement explained.
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