Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
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 attack occurred on Saturday, 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 incident was formally reported to the police on Sunday, May 24, 2026, by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, who narrated how armed assailants stormed the prayer ground and opened fire on innocent worshippers.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the command described the incident as gruesome, barbaric, and unacceptable. “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. The spokesperson detailed that while a night vigil was ongoing, armed hoodlums invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically, killing three persons while abducting fifteen others to an unknown destination.
Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer of the Ekiti Division immediately mobilised operatives to the scene. The Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, CP Ojo Adekimi, ordered an intensive rescue and manhunt operation involving a Police Drone Team, Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel, intelligence units, and other operational assets for a coordinated rescue mission. The commissioner condemned 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 have assured residents of Ekiti Local Government Area and other parts of the state that coordinated security operations, including bush combing, intelligence gathering, and surveillance, are ongoing across surrounding forests and communities 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, vigilant, and supportive by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing operations. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses.
The attack on Ori-Oke Ajaiye is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting religious gatherings in Kwara State. In February 2026, suspected extremists killed over 150 people in the villages of Nuku and Woro in Kaiama LGA. In April 2026, eight worshippers were abducted from an ECWA church in Omugo community, Ifelodun LGA. The attackers demanded a ₦1 billion ransom for their release. More recently, on May 15, armed gunmen attacked a Baptist church in Omuo-Ekiti area, killing the pastor and abducting 15 congregants, who were later released after a ransom was paid.
The porous borders between Kwara and neighbouring states, including Niger, Kogi, and Oyo, have allowed armed groups to establish hideouts in forest reserves such as the Old Oyo National Park. Despite military operations and air strikes, the frequency of attacks on civilian targets has continued to rise, raising questions about the effectiveness of current security measures. As of Sunday evening, no group had claimed responsibility for the Friday night attack, and the 15 abducted worshippers had not been located. Families of the victims have gathered at the Ikiran Village community hall, anxiously awaiting news. Local vigilantes, in collaboration with security forces, are combing the forests surrounding Ori-Oke Ajaiye in an effort to locate the captives.
The Kwara State Government has yet to issue an official statement on the attack, but the police command has assured the public that every resource is being deployed to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara State Chapter, has condemned the attack and called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to protect places of worship. For now, the people of Ikiran Village wait, hope, and pray—for the safe return of their loved ones and for an end to the violence that has shattered the peace of their community.
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