Armed bandits attacked a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) congregation in Eruku, Kwara State during a Tuesday evening service, firing into the church and abducting worshippers. The incident occurred in the Oke Isegun area of Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Local reporting indicates that the gunmen stormed the church during a service, shot sporadically, and took several congregants into the nearby bush. Police and community vigilantes reportedly launched a search-and-rescue effort following the attack.

The Eruku incident fits a broader pattern of armed bandit and kidnap-for-ransom activity affecting rural and semi-rural communities in north-central Nigeria, where criminal groups frequently target gatherings perceived as vulnerable. While the attackers in this case have been described as “bandits,” not all such incidents are clearly ideologically driven; financial motives often dominate, though churches and worship events present soft, predictable targets. Kwara State has seen previous abductions and insecurity in border communities, reflecting spillover from wider banditry in neighboring regions. For Christian workers, the attack highlights the convergence of general criminal insecurity with specific risks to worship settings.

What this means: The Eruku church attack demonstrates that routine worship services in north-central Nigeria can be directly targeted by armed bandit groups, making evening and rural gatherings particularly vulnerable to kidnap-for-ransom operations.

Who's at risk: Local churches, pastors, and congregations in rural or peri-urban areas of Kwara and adjacent states—especially those holding predictable, well-attended services—face elevated exposure to armed incursions and abductions. Faith-based NGOs and missionaries operating in or transiting through these communities share similar risk profiles due to their visibility and perceived access to external support.

Outlook: Without significant improvements in local security and effective disruption of bandit networks, churches and Christian gatherings in north-central Nigeria are likely to remain attractive targets for opportunistic kidnappers. Stakeholders should watch for further reports of church-focused abductions in Kwara and neighboring states as indicators of a sustained or expanding threat pattern.

ABUJA, NIGERIA – More than 300 children and 12 teachers were kidnapped during an attack on a school in Nigeria.

KWARA, NIGERIA – Bandits abducted four farmers in Kwara State one day after an attack on a local church. The incident occurred amid ongoing security threats affecting Christian communities in the area.

KWARA, NIGERIA – Armed bandits attacked a church in Kwara State, shooting a pastor and abducting several worshippers. The incident directly targeted a Christian congregation during worship.

KAGARKO, NIGERIA – Armed assailants attacked Kagarko in Kaduna State, killing one person and abducting several others. The violence affected local residents in an area with significant Christian communities.

BAMENDA, CAMEROON – A Full Gospel pastor was shot and wounded in an attack in Bamenda. The incident involved direct violence against a Christian leader.

CHIBOK, NIGERIA – Boko Haram attacked a church in Chibok, injuring several residents during the assault. The incident directly targeted a Christian place of worship.

ABUJA, NIGERIA – A pastor and nine other Christians were killed by radical Fulani attackers in Nigeria. The victims were targeted in a violent assault on a Christian community.

NORTH KIVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Terrorists killed civilians at a church‑run hospital in North Kivu. The attack targeted a Christian-operated medical facility.

ABUJA, NIGERIA – A Nigerian pastor reportedly received death threats after exposing killings of Christians. The threats targeted him for speaking publicly about the alleged genocide.

ARSI, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA – Three people were killed in a suspected militant attack in Arsi Zone of Oromia Region. Local communities, including Christian residents, were affected by the violence.

No current updates.

No current updates.

DHAKA, BANGLADESH – Bomb attacks targeted Catholic sites in Dhaka. The incidents posed a direct threat to local Catholic institutions and worshippers.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA – A Hindutva mob attacked Christian missionaries in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident targeted individuals engaged in Christian mission activities.

XI'AN, CHINA – Christian house church leaders were arrested in Xi’an, China. The detentions targeted local Christian leadership operating an unregistered house church.

No current updates.

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – Our Lady of Fatima Church in Georgetown was robbed. The incident targeted church property, affecting a local Christian community site.

FLORIDA, UNITED STATES – A man in Florida was arrested for making online threats against churches. The threats targeted Christian places of worship but were stopped before any attack occurred.

FAR ROCKAWAY, UNITED STATES – Three churches in Far Rockaway, Queens were vandalized with anti-Christian statements. The incidents targeted Christian properties but no injuries were reported.

SILVER SPRING, UNITED STATES – A church in Silver Spring, Maryland, was burglarized. The incident involved unauthorized entry and theft from a Christian place of worship.

WEST MERCIA AREA, UNITED KINGDOM – Two individuals were arrested in connection with a series of burglaries targeting churches in the West Mercia area. The arrests relate to break-ins affecting local Christian congregations.

CORNWALL, UNITED KINGDOM – A glass panel was stolen from a historic church in Cornwall. The theft targeted church property and affected a local Christian heritage site.

BROOKTON, AUSTRALIA – A historic bell was stolen from St Mark’s Anglican Church in Brookton. The theft targeted church property belonging to the local Anglican community.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – An Australian man was arrested for setting a local church altar on fire, causing approximately $75,000 in damage. The incident directly affected church property and operations.

Please pray for the Christian community in Abuja, Nigeria, where a pastor and nine other believers were violently killed by radical attackers. We lift up the grieving families and ask God to surround them with His comfort, healing, and strength as they walk through deep loss.

Pray also for protection over the surviving community, courage for local church leaders, and justice to be carried out with wisdom and integrity. May our brothers and sisters there know that they are not forgotten and that the global Church stands with them in love and solidarity.

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