Bandits launched an attack on a branch of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) congregation on Tuesday evening in the Eruku community of Kwara State, killing worshippers and abducting the pastor and several others, according to local reports.

The incident occurred during a service at the Oke Isegun branch in Eruku, a town bordering Kogi State. A livestream of the service, which was subsequently viewed by BusinessDay, captured moments when gunshots rang out from outside the church, causing worshippers to flee as the firing intensified. Video footage shows more than five armed men entering the building and ransacking the premises.

According to The PUNCH, the attackers shot three worshippers dead before marching the pastor and an unconfirmed number of congregants into the nearby bush.

"The gunmen came into the church while people were gathered. They started shooting, and three people died immediately," a witness told the newspaper. "They later rounded up some worshippers, including the pastor, and marched them into the bush."

A community leader, Benjamin Ayeoribe, said Eruku has suffered repeated bandit attacks over the past three weeks and that appeals to authorities have produced no meaningful response.

"We have begged the local and state governments for help, but nothing concrete has come. We are living in fear every day," he said.

The attack comes less than two days after bandits abducted 25 students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.