Fear and panic have gripped residents of Omugo community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, following the abduction of eight church worshippers by armed bandits. The attack, which occurred at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), forced many residents to flee their homes, leaving streets deserted and the once-busy settlement looking like a ghost town.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bandits stormed the church during a worship session, abducting eight people, including the wife of the church pastor, and brutally assaulting some victims, including a 90-year-old visually impaired woman. Survivors recounted fleeing through back doors, fences, and nearby bush areas to escape gunfire, while the attackers targeted those unable to run.
Security presence in the community was reportedly absent during and after the attack. A completed police post at the entrance of Omugo was abandoned, with overgrown grass and no officers stationed to protect residents. Witnesses and local residents expressed concern that repeated attacks and lack of law enforcement made the community vulnerable to further assaults.
The pastor of the church, Omole Sunday Timothy, confirmed the incident and described it as the third such attack on Omugo by bandits. He appealed to the government and security agencies to intervene, stating that the church and local community could not handle the crisis alone and urging urgent action to secure the release of the abducted victims.
Residents who managed to escape relocated to nearby towns such as Omu-Aran and the state capital, Ilorin, with many abandoning their homes and possessions. The community’s plight highlights growing insecurity in the area and the urgent need for proactive measures by authorities to protect vulnerable populations.
