Gunmen have killed three worshippers and abducted at least 15 others during a night prayer session at a mosque in Kwara State, police and local sources said on Sunday.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Ilesha-Baruba area of Baruten Local Government Area, a border community near the Benin Republic.
Residents said the attackers stormed the mosque while worshippers were observing Tahajjud prayers and opened fire before taking several people away into the forest.
A community source told the media that “the bandits invaded the mosque during prayers, killed three worshippers instantly and abducted many others.”
The source added that the attackers operated for several minutes without resistance before escaping.
Another resident said fear had spread across nearby communities following the incident, with many families abandoning night activities.
Kwara State Police Command spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed the attack, saying security operatives had launched a rescue operation to track the abductors and free the victims.
“The command is aware of the unfortunate incident,” she said, adding that “tactical teams, vigilantes and local hunters have been mobilised to comb the surrounding forest.”
Police authorities said the exact number of abducted persons was still being verified as search operations continued in the area.
The latest attack adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Kwara North, where communities bordering Niger State and the Benin Republic have repeatedly reported attacks linked to armed groups and kidnappers operating around forest corridors.
Traditional leaders and residents have called for increased military presence and tighter border surveillance to prevent further attacks in the region.
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