Three Christians Killed at Prayer Vigil in Western Nigeria 

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Gunmen killed three Christians and kidnapped 15 others during a church prayer vigil in Nigeria’s western Kwara state on Saturday, May 23, according to sources.

The attack occurred at 8:30 p.m. at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ekerin village in Ekiti County, said Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, a spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command.

Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the details in a statement, noting the incident was reported on May 24 by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of the Ijo Ajaye Ati Igbala church.

“While conducting a night vigil alongside members of his congregation at Ori-Oke Ijaye via Ekerin village, armed hoodlums invaded the prayer ground, firing sporadically, killing three persons while abducting 15 others to an unknown destination,” the police statement said.

Ojo Adekimi, the Commissioner of Police for the Kwara State Command, has ordered a “comprehensive tactical and intelligence-driven operation” involving a police drone team and other assets to rescue the victims, Ejire-Adeyemi said.

The commissioner described the attack as “barbaric, callous and unacceptable,” assuring families that the command is committed to rescuing the victims and apprehending the perpetrators.

In response to the violence, the Ekiti Local Government Council has called on all church leaders to halt night worship services until further notice. Council Chairman Awelewa Olawale Gabriel said a similar directive had been issued previously due to terrorist activity in the state.

“Faith cannot be practiced at the expense of life,” Gabriel said. “We have consistently advised churches and mosques in isolated areas to stop holding night vigils. Worship is meant to edify and protect, not expose people to avoidable danger.”

Growing Insecurity and Criticism

The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) condemned the attack on Sunday, May 24, stating it “threw surrounding communities into panic as residents fled for safety amid heavy gunfire and confusion.”

In a press statement, CDHR National President Yinka Folarin and General Secretary Idris Afees Olayinka criticized the government’s handling of the security crisis.

“Continued attacks on innocent citizens, destruction of livelihoods, displacement of communities and a growing atmosphere of fear are unacceptable in any democratic society,” the leaders said. “Sadly, the state government efforts appear not to be enough to protect citizens from the persistent wave of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and violent crimes spreading across several communities.”

They added that the “weak response, and apparent lack of urgency by government at all levels have further emboldened criminal elements.”

The CDHR expressed deep concern that Kwara state, particularly the Kwara South region, is becoming a “dangerous hotspot for terrorism and violent extremism.”

“Farmers can no longer safely access their farmlands, economic activities are being disrupted, and freedom of movement has been severely restricted by fear and insecurity,” the leaders said. “This latest attack also reflects a disturbing pattern of repeated assaults on worship centres and rural settlements across the state.”

The group cited other recent incidents, including a November attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti County, and a March attack on an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) congregation in Omugo, Ifelodun County, where worshippers were also abducted.

“We therefore call on the governor of Kwara state, the Federal Government of Nigeria, security agencies, and all relevant authorities to urgently take decisive, coordinated and sustained actions to restore peace, security and public confidence,” the CDHR statement concluded.

A National Crisis

According to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, more Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide during that period, 3,490 (72 percent) were in Nigeria, an increase from 3,100 the previous year. The country ranked seventh on the list of the 50 most difficult places to be a Christian.

The report notes that in Nigeria’s North-Central zone, Islamic extremist Fulani militias frequently attack farming communities, killing hundreds, with Christians being the primary targets. In the northern states, jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to carry out raids, sexual violence, and killings.

This violence has now spread to southern states. A new jihadist group, Lakurawa, armed with advanced weapons and affiliated with the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM, has also emerged in the northwest.