Suspected gunmen on Sunday attacked the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, in Omugo community during service in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State and kidnapped some members.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the bandits stormed the premises and began shooting sporadically, creating panic and forcing members of the congregation to flee in different directions.
Amid the chaos, eight worshippers were reportedly abducted by the attackers.
However, three of the abducted victims were said to have escaped from their captors, while five others remain in captivity.
The incident is coming few months after bandits attacked a CAC church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government area, during church service, before they were later released.
The Kwara State Government confirmed the attack, describing it as a disturbing incident and condemning the targeting of a place of worship.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, the government commended security operatives and local response groups for their swift intervention.
The statement acknowledged the role of security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes in the immediate response, particularly in facilitating the escape of three of the victims.
The government also urged continued collaboration among security agencies, community members, and local vigilantes to confront the growing threat of criminal activities in the area.
It further noted that ongoing operations, including forest combing exercises, have yielded progress in curbing the activities of criminal elements within affected communities.
Tinubu rallies govs
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday tasked state governors to intensify collaboration in tackling insecurity, pledging increased foreign support to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
The president spoke when Vice President Kashim Shettima led governors on a traditional Eid-el-Fitr homage to the president’s residence in Lagos.
Tinubu described insecurity as a major obstacle to development, progress, and prosperity, urging all levels of government to remain resolute in confronting the challenge.
“Insecurity is an enemy of development, progress and prosperity. I am glad that we are all mindful of the challenge before us.”
Tinubu disclosed that he also held extensive discussions on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron on security cooperation and potential support for Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
“I had a lengthy discussion with President Macron, and they are willing to collaborate with us on equipment and support.”
The president said Nigeria would leverage its goodwill and existing diplomatic relationships to access resources, including credit facilities, to strengthen its security capabilities.
IGP Disu orders reduction of tactical teams
In another development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has ordered the reduction of tactical teams by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations.
A statement by DCP Anthony Placid, force public relations officer, said the IGP is uncomfortable with the proliferation of tactical teams as they drain police divisions and posts of required manpower and bring issues that affect the Force’s integrity because of the excesses of the poorly supervised teams.
“To address these issues, the IGP directed the reduction of the tactical teams at Zonal and State Command levels to a maximum of five, and Area Command and Divisional levels to a maximum of three.
“This can be achieved by merging or disbanding teams, at the Heads of formations’ discretion. The teams referred to exclude State Government-created outfits like Lagos’ Rapid Response Squad, Oyo’s SRS, and Bayelsa’s Operation DOO-AKPOR and other similar outfits across the country.
“The IGP expects this move to free personnel for Police Stations, reducing complaints about tactical team excesses,” the statement reads.
Placid’s statement came amidst some media reports that the Inspector-General of Police had drawn tactical teams nationwide, a claim he said is a misrepresentation of the IGP’s directives.
“The IGP, a grassroots officer with a profound network across Nigerian society, is aware of public concerns about police tactical teams’ operations and the creation of multiple teams by Commissioners of Police and Heads of formations, with attendant backlash,” the statement stated.
